as in cruelty
disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others
a troubled youth with a streak of sadism in him
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Recent Examples of sadism
Gaiman's representatives have responded to some outlets, claiming the incidents were consensual and instances of practicing BDSM (bondage, discipline/dominance, submission/sadism and masochism).
—
Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
David Lynch’s cinematic masterpiece pulls back the curtain on the sadism and malevolence hiding behind the picket fences of middle America.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
All the sadism which the academic Left has tried to make unacceptable to its students will come flooding back.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Pavlovich’s allegations, like others against Gaiman, often involve acts associated with BDSM (bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadism
Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
David Lynch’s cinematic masterpiece pulls back the curtain on the sadism and malevolence hiding behind the picket fences of middle America.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
All the sadism which the academic Left has tried to make unacceptable to its students will come flooding back.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Pavlovich’s allegations, like others against Gaiman, often involve acts associated with BDSM (bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadism
Noun
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There’s a great line: Honesty without compassion equals cruelty.—
Jayson Jenks,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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In each of these films, cruelty commingles with tenderness, and hideous acts take place against backdrops of often stunning natural beauty.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Remick is the defendant in two active police brutality lawsuits.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2025
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Prosecutors said Mahdi constantly used brutality to solve his problems.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sadism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadism. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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