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
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
Conclave: The Biggest Changes Between Movie Starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci and the Book Directed by Edward Berger, Conclave is an adaptation of Robert Harris’s 2016 novel of the same name and follows a group of cutthroat cardinals electing a new pope. Jen Juneau, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025 In the cutthroat airline industry, few things can boost a company’s reputation more than getting passengers to their destinations on time. Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Another factor in the cutthroat Nantucket rental market is the community divide over short-term leases—which broadly boils down to the tension between overcrowding and traffic and being a hospitality town that depends on tourism. Hannah Seligson, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2024 The Major League Baseball Players’ Association petitioned a New York trial court last week to confirm an arbitration award against Rimas Sports executives in a move that draws attention to the competitive, if not cutthroat, world of player agents. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cutthroat 

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 20 Jan. 2025.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!