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
Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2024
When their cutthroat personalities spill off the rink, the pair come up with a friends-with-benefits bet to see who will fold first: Sam, the playboy who heads the men's team, or Aderyn, on the women's team, who is more of a relationship kind of girl.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024
Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
The car-wash business is cutthroat and competitive, and so is the business of entertaining the world.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cutthroat 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
While some on Wall Street have expressed skepticism on whether massive investments in AI are translating to the bottom line, the tech sector is locked in a cutthroat race to be first on the scene with the latest advances in AI.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2024
When their cutthroat personalities spill off the rink, the pair come up with a friends-with-benefits bet to see who will fold first: Sam, the playboy who heads the men's team, or Aderyn, on the women's team, who is more of a relationship kind of girl.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Cruel Intentions follows the elite students of Manchester College, where two ruthless step-siblings will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy, including seducing the daughter of the vice-president of the United States.
—Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
The car-wash business is cutthroat and competitive, and so is the business of entertaining the world.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cutthroat
Dictionary Entries Near cutthroat
Cite this Entry
“Cutthroat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutthroat. Accessed 28 Nov. 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