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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sadism

Here, animals serve as vessels for our worst impulses, suffering at the point where curiosity turns to sadism, domination to cruelty, and self-interest to neglect. — Literary Hub, 9 June 2026

An extra-dark comedy that veers toward sadism, the film is saved by the chemistry and star power of Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas (fresh off their Romancing the Stone series), with an assist from an excellent Danny DeVito. — Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026

Over Your Dead Body is not for the faint of heart, but give or take a rape threat that crosses the line into smug sadism without quite seeming to realize it, the violence lands as more comically cartoonish than horrific. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026

While often associated with extreme behavior, sub-clinical sadism manifests in more mundane ways, such as internet trolling or a fascination with violent video games. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Feb. 2026