cut·throat
ˈkət-ˌthrōt 
Synonyms
Examples of cutthroat in a Sentence
Noun
while traveling the ancient Silk Road, traders were constant prey to cutthroats and thieves
Adjective
cutthroat business practices intended to drive competitors out of business
Recent Examples on the Web
David Sims, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024
But this is true old-growth longleaf pine, never logged, the ground cover rare cutthroat grass.
—Jen Guyton, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
In the duo’s adaptation, the town’s doctor played by Strong — known for his turn as the cutthroat Kendall Roy in Succession – expresses more compassion, rather than taking a braggadocious, know-it-all stance.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2024
Dino Lucarelli truly exemplifies ethical leadership in an industry known for cutthroat competition and ethical compromises.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
Women, minorities, and particularly Black women diplomats make it in but still suffer from the entrenched norms of behavior that leave them disadvantaged and vulnerable in such a cutthroat environment.
—Byjenny Abamu, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024
Carla Gugino’s Grace is the veteran, a cutthroat scoop factory who neglects her long-suffering husband and college-student daughter.
—TIME, 14 Mar. 2024
Miriam learns that her new community can be as cutthroat as any five-star restaurant.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024
With competitors like that, the grocery business will continue to be a cutthroat business.
—Richard Kestenbaum, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
There’s little use eyeing an entry into a cutthroat new sector when staying ahead in your actual wheelhouse requires a ton of focus.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024
Williams boards the show after receiving glowing reviews for her work on Ugly Betty as Slater, the cutthroat head of the fictional Mode magazine — a character that ultimately brought Williams three Emmy nominations for her performance that aired between 2006 and 2010.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2024
Stone's leadership approach provides a refreshing vantage point in today's cutthroat corporate landscape.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024
Elite sport is unapologetically cutthroat, inherently Darwinian.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
With classic fashion sense mixed with progressive performance spirit, Hall made taking the title in a notoriously cutthroat competition look easy with her signature comedic chops, unique runways, and commitment to representing—and honoring—Black excellence across the board.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2023
Matt, your character is so cutthroat, but obviously there’s sympathy for him, as well.
—Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Dec. 2023
Though the real estate market will be cutthroat, there are some small things prospective buyers can do to stand out against the competition.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 27 Dec. 2023
Noun
But by planting the movie in the 1980s, Rohrwacher casts a sad glance at her country’s postwar development, depicting a land of eroding infrastructure, bumbling cops, and a cutthroat, capitalistic market for the artifacts Arthur is hunting.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024
But this is true old-growth longleaf pine, never logged, the ground cover rare cutthroat grass.
—Jen Guyton, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
In the duo’s adaptation, the town’s doctor played by Strong — known for his turn as the cutthroat Kendall Roy in Succession – expresses more compassion, rather than taking a braggadocious, know-it-all stance.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2024
Dino Lucarelli truly exemplifies ethical leadership in an industry known for cutthroat competition and ethical compromises.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
Women, minorities, and particularly Black women diplomats make it in but still suffer from the entrenched norms of behavior that leave them disadvantaged and vulnerable in such a cutthroat environment.
—Byjenny Abamu, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024
Carla Gugino’s Grace is the veteran, a cutthroat scoop factory who neglects her long-suffering husband and college-student daughter.
—TIME, 14 Mar. 2024
Miriam learns that her new community can be as cutthroat as any five-star restaurant.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024
With competitors like that, the grocery business will continue to be a cutthroat business.
—Richard Kestenbaum, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Adjective
This is a perfect opportunity, especially for new players to get the feel for not just online poker but the cutthroat world of online tournament play — which is where the real action always has been.
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
There’s little use eyeing an entry into a cutthroat new sector when staying ahead in your actual wheelhouse requires a ton of focus.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024
Williams boards the show after receiving glowing reviews for her work on Ugly Betty as Slater, the cutthroat head of the fictional Mode magazine — a character that ultimately brought Williams three Emmy nominations for her performance that aired between 2006 and 2010.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2024
Stone's leadership approach provides a refreshing vantage point in today's cutthroat corporate landscape.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024
Elite sport is unapologetically cutthroat, inherently Darwinian.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
With classic fashion sense mixed with progressive performance spirit, Hall made taking the title in a notoriously cutthroat competition look easy with her signature comedic chops, unique runways, and commitment to representing—and honoring—Black excellence across the board.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2023
Matt, your character is so cutthroat, but obviously there’s sympathy for him, as well.
—Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Dec. 2023
Though the real estate market will be cutthroat, there are some small things prospective buyers can do to stand out against the competition.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 27 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cutthroat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cutthroat
Cite this Entry
“Cutthroat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutthroat. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cutthroat
1 of 2 noun
cut·throat
ˈkət-ˌthrōt
1
: a person likely to cut someone's throat
2
: a cruel person with no scruples
cutthroat
2 of 2 adjective
: ruthless
cutthroat competition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share