Meaning & use
sadist
Last updated
a person who takes pleasure in causing pain or suffering to others
See it in a sentence
The villain in the story is portrayed as a sadist who enjoys his victims' fear.
Only a sadist would find that kind of cruelty amusing.
A note on using this word
Derived from the name of the Marquis de Sade; the related noun is 'sadism' and the adjective is 'sadistic.'
Words with a similar meaning
tormentor
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sadist”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.