1
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
a frigid day with a cutting wind that made it seem even colder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
the cutting side of the sword blade
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3
as in satiric
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
her cutting comments serve only one purpose: to make someone cry
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in slicing
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife)
I cut my hand on a piece of broken glass
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2
as in skipping
to fail to attend
a warning that she had been cutting too many classes without valid excuses
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3
as in isolating
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
the snobbish lady cut anyone who didn't meet her standards of wealth and social standing
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4
as in shaving
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument
when you cut the pad, make it a little smaller than the carpet
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5
6
as in diluting
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
the fruit juice was so cut with water that it was barely a fruit-flavored drink
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7
as in veering
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
cut towards the goal, eluding a defender
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8
as in intersecting
to divide by passing through or across
a long mountain range virtually cuts that country in half
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9
as in analyzing
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships
whichever way you cut it, we won't be seeing any profits from the business for at least three years
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cutting
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2026
Go easy on the buffing Some people also like to buff their nails after cutting, and a light buff can promote healthy growth and increase shine.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
In the retail industry, stores of all stripes have embraced different ways to offset the effects of tariffs — from absorbing some of the costs themselves, to cutting expenses and diversifying their supply network.
—Dallas Morning News, 21 Feb. 2026
And this month, the county approved cutting 365 mostly vacant positions.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
Mamdani is cutting about 5,000 officer positions in the New York City Police Department to pay for his expensive socialist and diversity programs.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 21 Feb. 2026
After cutting a lemon, use it as quickly as possible.
—Hannah Harper, Health, 21 Feb. 2026
The performance is as delicate as a veil, as cutting as a razor’s slash.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
Zinnias do well in a meadow, cutting garden, or summer containers.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
On one sequence Harding made a perfect bounce pass to a cutting Edmonds, who dunked over a West Virginia defender.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2026
Go easy on the buffing Some people also like to buff their nails after cutting, and a light buff can promote healthy growth and increase shine.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
In the retail industry, stores of all stripes have embraced different ways to offset the effects of tariffs — from absorbing some of the costs themselves, to cutting expenses and diversifying their supply network.
—Dallas Morning News, 21 Feb. 2026
And this month, the county approved cutting 365 mostly vacant positions.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
Mamdani is cutting about 5,000 officer positions in the New York City Police Department to pay for his expensive socialist and diversity programs.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 21 Feb. 2026
After cutting a lemon, use it as quickly as possible.
—Hannah Harper, Health, 21 Feb. 2026
The performance is as delicate as a veil, as cutting as a razor’s slash.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
Zinnias do well in a meadow, cutting garden, or summer containers.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting
Adjective
-
The Chill Factor Perhaps the most biting statistic of the season so far is the temperature.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Our approaches can be critical, satirical, comical, dramatic, poetic, but will always be complex and complicated.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The book is a satirical story about a fictional reality TV show called Model Muse that was inspired by his experience on ANTM.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Penetrating not only the injury but also the complex surgical intervention, researchers revealed a fascinating slice of surgical history, as the Pazyryk (and Egyptians) demonstrated superb skill, shaped by adversity.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
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Then came an almighty, barely believable surge spearheaded by Ngumoha, and if the VAR intervention was the slice of good fortune Forest needed, what happened next summed up everything about the power of those towards the top.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Begin by slicing Yukon golds with a mandoline to achieve thin, perfectly even slices, and then simmer the potatoes in milk before bathing them in the rich, simple combination of heavy cream, butter, and Gruyère cheese.—
Jennifer Anderson,
Martha Stewart,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Its flatter blade profile also gives it a longer slicing range.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the restaurant on the top floor, Gray Kunz’s Café Gray Deluxe, the lamb tagine is so tender there’s no guilt for skipping a chance to have dim sum and Hong Kong’s signature egg tarts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Think elegant chocolate tarts, creamy chia puddings, roasty cashew ice cream, and tahini-marbled brownies—proof that skipping dairy doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Being awake so much can be an isolating experience.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
-
While volunteering in inpatient rehabilitation, Rathna noticed how isolating long hospital stays could be.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There wasn’t even a full question asked about the secret project using computer technology aimed at shaving fractions of a second off speedskating times to help the Americans bring home gold medals from the Milan Cortina Olympics.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
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Some of the same men involved in the NBA case were also indicted earlier this month in what federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania say was a college basketball point-shaving ring.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Keep lawns breathable by removing leaves, mowing before winter, and avoiding foot traffic or snow piles.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Work is seasonal by nature — mowing jobs in summer, snow removal in winter.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cutting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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