sadism

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.

In other hands, a film of such unadorned fatalism might seem useless, an exercise in emotional sadism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Either way, making us think about Stephen Miller’s prowess is a small act of sadism.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2025

Accusing her of cruelty and sadism without any proof, they appeared shortly after the Ukrainian army had liberated Kherson.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2023

If the movie “X” could be described as “Boogie Nights” meets “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” then its prequel “Pearl” feels like watching Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” develop a penchant for sadism.

From Washington Post • Sep. 14, 2022

Thus the conversion from pristine sadism to fabricated hatred, to fraudulent love.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison