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

One of the things I saw a parallel to is about trying to unlearn these toxic practices and change this culture of the sadism that we associate with these great restaurants.

From Salon • Dec. 7, 2023

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

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2023

Accompanied by Marcelo Zarvos’s somber, dissonant score, “Emancipation” becomes a study in human sadism and endurance, with Smith delivering his French-inflected dialogue through gritted teeth and doleful, pain-weary eyes.

From Washington Post • Dec. 1, 2022

I don't know who invented the template for the standard writing workshop, but whoever it was seems to have struck the perfect balance between sadism and masochism.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris