sadistic
UK: səˈdɪstɪk | US: səˈdɪstɪk
adj. deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others
adj. relating to or characterized by sadism
The word "sadistic" originates from the name of the Marquis de Sade (1740–1814), a French nobleman and writer infamous for his works depicting extreme cruelty and sexual violence. The term "sadism" was coined in the 19th century to describe the psychological tendency to derive pleasure from others' suffering, and "sadistic" emerged as its adjectival form. The morpheme "sad" preserves the root tied to Sade's name, while "-istic" combines "-ist" (agent noun) and "-ic" (adjective-forming suffix), reflecting the word's evolution from a proper noun to a psychological concept.
The villain's sadistic laughter chilled the audience.
She was disturbed by his sadistic enjoyment of others' pain.
The film depicted a sadistic dictator who tortured his enemies.
His sadistic tendencies made him unfit for a caregiving role.
The psychologist studied the origins of sadistic behavior in criminals.