sadistic

/sæ'distik/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Deriving pleasure or sexual gratification from inflicting pain on another: The word describes a person who enjoys causing physical or psychological suffering to others. This enjoyment is a key characteristic of the personality or behavior.
Usage
  • The adjective "sadistic" is used to describe a person, their behavior, their actions, or their tendencies. It carries a strong negative connotation.
  • It can be used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "is" or "seems").
Examples
  • Attributive use (before a noun):
    • The villain in the story was a sadistic torturer.
    • He was accused of sadistic behavior towards his subordinates.
  • Predicative use (after a linking verb):
    • The bully's laughter seemed genuinely sadistic.
    • Taking pleasure in others' misfortune is sadistic.
Advanced Usage
  • "sadistic pleasure/satisfaction": A common collocation emphasizing the type of pleasure derived.
    • He took sadistic pleasure in humiliating his rivals.
  • "sadistic streak/tendency": Used to indicate a particular aspect of someone's character.
    • The strict teacher was known to have a sadistic streak.
Variants and Related Words
  • Sadism (noun): The practice of deriving pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain or humiliation on others. This is the source noun for the adjective.
    • His actions were an act of pure sadism.
  • Sadist (noun): A person who derives pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain or humiliation on others.
    • The prison guard was a cruel sadist.
Synonyms
  • Cruel: Willfully causing pain or suffering to others.
  • Brutal: Savagely violent, often implying a lack of mercy.
  • Vicious: Deliberately cruel or violent.
  • Masochistic (Antonym/Related): Deriving pleasure from one's own pain or humiliation. (Note: This is often paired with "sadistic" in the compound term "sadomasochistic").
Notes on Meaning
  • The term originates from the name of the French writer Marquis de Sade, who wrote novels depicting such pleasures.
  • In psychology and psychiatry, sadism can refer to a personality disorder when such behavior is pervasive.
  • The word is often used in a non-clinical, figurative sense to describe anyone who seems to enjoy being cruel.
Adjective
  1. deriving pleasure or sexual gratification from inflicting pain on another

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