sadistic
/səˈdɪstɪk/
ADJECTIVE
1. Enjoying the suffering of others
Deriving pleasure, satisfaction, or enjoyment from witnessing or causing other people to experience physical pain, emotional distress, or humiliation.
1.1. Personal cruelty and enjoyment of suffering
Used to describe people who deliberately enjoy causing pain, distress, or humiliation to others, often taking pleasure in their victims' suffering.
Synonyms
- cruel
- brutal
- vicious
- fiendish
- barbaric
- barbarous
- bloodthirsty
- inhumane
- merciless
- ruthless
- pitiless
- heartless
- inhuman
Antonyms
- compassionate
- humane
- kind
- kindhearted
- gentle
- merciful
- tenderhearted
- good-hearted
- sympathetic
Examples
- The villain's actions were undeniably sadistic, causing harm without remorse.
- The horror movie depicted a sadistic killer with a twisted sense of pleasure.
- The sadistic captor deliberately inflicted pain on helpless prisoners.
- His sadistic behavior revealed an alarming lack of compassion for others.
Related Words
- sadism
- cruelty
- brutality
- malevolence
- malice
- torture
- violence
- inhumanity
- ruthlessness
- bloodlust
1.2. Cruel and inhumane treatment or punishment
Used to describe actions, punishments, or treatment that deliberately cause extreme physical pain, emotional suffering, or humiliation, particularly when cruelty is a defining characteristic of the behavior.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Examples
- The dictator's regime was marked by sadistic punishments for dissenters.
- The prisoners endured sadistic treatment at the hands of their captors.
- The investigation uncovered a pattern of sadistic abuse within the institution.
Related Words
- punishment
- torture
- abuse
- mistreatment
- persecution
- oppression
- inhumanity
- suffering
- violence
1.3. Malicious and deliberately harmful behavior
Used to describe behavior motivated by hostility, spite, or a desire to hurt others, particularly when the person acts with deliberate cruelty or takes pleasure in causing distress.
Synonyms
- malicious
- malevolent
- spiteful
- vindictive
- despiteful
- hateful
- mean
- nasty
- cutthroat
- wanton
Antonyms
- charitable
- compassionate
- kind
- kindhearted
- good-hearted
- sympathetic
- warmhearted
Examples
- His sadistic sense of humor made others uncomfortable in social situations.
- The sadistic bully enjoyed humiliating weaker students in front of their classmates.
- She recognized the sadistic intention behind his deliberately humiliating remarks.
Related Words
- hostility
- malice
- vengeance
- revenge
- resentment
- aggression
- malevolence
- spite
- vindictiveness
ADJECTIVE
2. Causing extreme pain or humiliation
Characterized by actions, experiences, or circumstances that inflict an unusually high degree of physical pain, emotional distress, or humiliation, whether or not pleasure is explicitly derived from the suffering.
2.1. Extremely painful or humiliating experiences
Used to characterize challenges, situations, or experiences that involve unusually severe suffering, distress, or humiliation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Examples
- The protagonist faced a series of sadistic challenges in the dark labyrinth.
- The prisoners were subjected to sadistic conditions that caused lasting psychological damage.
Related Words
- pain
- humiliation
- distress
- suffering
- hardship
- ordeal
- torment
- agony