# sadistic

/səˈdɪstɪk/ (US) · /sɐdˈɪstɪk/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sadistic
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

getting pleasure or enjoyment from hurting other people or seeing them suffer.

For teachers: deriving pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.

## Examples

- The villain in the movie has a sadistic personality.
- The prison guards were accused of sadistic behavior toward the inmates during the night shift.
- Psychologists distinguish between instrumental aggression used to achieve a goal and purely sadistic acts where the primary motivation is the enjoyment of another's distress.

## Usage notes

- Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'become'.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.