cutthroat

1 of 2

noun

cut·​throat ˈkət-ˌthrōt How to pronounce cutthroat (audio)
1
2
: a cruel unprincipled person

cutthroat

2 of 2

adjective

1
2
: marked by unprincipled practices : ruthless
cutthroat competition
3
: characterized by each player playing independently rather than having a permanent partner
used especially of partnership games adapted for three players
cutthroat bridge

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
Noun
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 And some parents do get cutthroat, selling outside the guidelines before they’re supposed to, or doing all the work for their girls. Katie Grant, Parents, 7 Feb. 2024 Still, in the cutthroat world of international relations, even the intangible is difficult to share. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024 Despite its cutthroat reservation queue, Libertine also doesn’t see a ton of people trying to walk in for a meal because its location doesn’t see much foot traffic. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 29 Feb. 2024 Julius Caesar' The cutthroat world of Roman politics is exposed with the ambitious, but oblivious, Julius Caesar becomes a target for assassination. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 28 Feb. 2024 Troxell’s attorneys have painted him as something of a peacemaker — or at least an even-keel — within the cutthroat world of prison gang politics. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024
Adjective
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 Since virtually everyone has one these days, the days of huge growth are over, and competition between the large carriers can be cutthroat. Chris Taylor, wsj.com, 17 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.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cutthroat was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near cutthroat

Cite this Entry

“Cutthroat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutthroat. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cutthroat

1 of 2 noun
cut·​throat ˈkət-ˌthrōt How to pronounce cutthroat (audio)
1
: a person likely to cut someone's throat
2
: a cruel person with no scruples

cutthroat

2 of 2 adjective
: ruthless
cutthroat competition

More from Merriam-Webster on cutthroat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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