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sadistic

[suh-dis-tik, say-, sa-] / səˈdɪs tɪk, seɪ-, sæ- /
ADJECTIVE
cruel, perverted
Synonyms
Antonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

‘The Swan’ was a spectacle called cruel and sadistic, but former contestants don’t really see it that way.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

Even Richard Nixon in his darkest, and sometimes drunken, moments had the good sense, or at least the protection afforded by his aides, to keep his most sadistic thoughts private.

From Salon ● Apr. 8, 2026

And no wonder: You needn’t work at a fashion magazine to relate to having a sadistic boss like Meryl Streep’s character in “The Devil Wears Prada.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 29, 2025

The veteran actress has often done terrific work by going small, her breakthrough coming as a Jewish maid prized by Ralph Fiennes’ sadistic Nazi in 1993’s “Schindler’s List.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2025

At the same time, I wasn’t so sadistic that I’d inflict any more of my loser-boy routine on Faith, either.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx




Vocabulary lists containing sadistic


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