Synonyms of sadism

sadism

noun

ˈsā-ˌdi-zəm 

as in cruelty

disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others

a troubled youth with a streak of sadism in him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cruelty
• brutality
• savagery
• atrocity
• barbarity
• inhumanity
• heartlessness
• savageness
• cruelness
• viciousness
• murderousness
• fiendishness
• wantonness
• barbarousness
• truculence
• ruthlessness
• inhumanness
• mercilessness
• atrociousness
• meanness
• pitilessness
• ferocity
• grimness
• bloodthirstiness
• malevolence
• oppressiveness
• bloodlust
• ferociousness
• fierceness
• spitefulness
• maliciousness
• hatefulness
• malignity
• hard-heartedness
• sanguinity
• unfeelingness
• fellness
• harshness
• nastiness
• cattiness
• sanguineness
• heavy-handedness
• despitefulness
• hardhandedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathy
• compassion
• humanity
• kindness
• humaneness
• tenderness
• benignity
• warmth
• tenderheartedness
• kindheartedness
• warmness
• good-heartedness
• pity
• mercy
• leniency
• clemency
• warmheartedness
• charitableness
• mercifulness

Examples of sadism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Of course, California State University, where websites at campuses like Northridge and San Francisco, among others, sometimes carry similar messages — starting long before the Hamas sadism of last Oct. 7 — has no such policy. —Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2024

Stray Observations: Ashley’s descent into unhinged sadism has been a riot to watch. —Alex Raiman, EW.com, 4 July 2024

But in a final act of sadism, Blood and Cheese instead chose to taunt Maelor with his mother's decision before chopping off Jaehaerys' head. —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 17 June 2024

But at least Law fills the screen with energy, reveling in Henry’s malignant narcissism with a mesmerizing, maniacal sadism. —Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 14 June 2024