Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who derives pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others. This is the primary psychological and clinical definition.
   • More broadly, a person who enjoys being cruel. In everyday, non-clinical usage, it can describe someone who takes pleasure in another's distress or misfortune.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The character in the novel was a sadist who tortured his captives for entertainment.
  • Calling someone a sadist for giving a difficult exam is usually an exaggeration.
  • The investigation revealed the prison guard to be a sadist who abused his authority.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical vs. Colloquial: In psychology, "sadist" often relates to sexual sadism disorder. In common speech, it is used hyperbolically to describe anyone seeming to enjoy causing minor frustration or hardship.
• "Sadist" as a descriptor: Often used in the pattern "like a sadist" to emphasize cruel behavior.
  • He scheduled the 8 a.m. meeting on a Monday like a sadist.

Variants and Related Words

• Sadistic (adj): Exhibiting or characterized by sadism.
  • He took sadistic pleasure in their failure.
• Sadism (n): The practice or condition of being a sadist; the deriving of pleasure from cruelty.
  • His actions were motivated by pure sadism.

Synonyms

• Cruel person
• Tormentor
• Brute (less specific)

Antonyms

• Masochist (a person who derives pleasure from their own pain or humiliation)
• Empath
• Humanitarian

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Sadistic streak: A tendency or element of sadism in one's character.
  • The manager had a sadistic streak and loved publicly criticizing his staff.
• (To be) Accused of being a sadist: A common phrase when someone's strict or harsh actions are interpreted as cruel.
  • The drill sergeant was accused of being a sadist by the new recruits.

Noun

1. someone who obtains pleasure from inflicting pain or others