cutthroat 1 of 2

Definition of cutthroatnext
as in assassin
a person who kills another person while traveling the ancient Silk Road, traders were constant prey to cutthroats and thieves

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cutthroat
Adjective
Economists expect Beijing to lean harder on stimulus to stabilize corporate profitability, as consolidation accelerates in sectors already facing sluggish demand, fierce competition and cutthroat price wars. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026 Even many outfitters say the Thorofare is too busy during the cutthroat spawn, when the fish move out of Yellowstone Lake and into rivers where anglers can see and catch them. — Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
Coming off a cutthroat season that drew the most viewers back to the program in a decade, the competition coming this fall is already gearing up to be one for the books. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 18 June 2026 Knowing the history of the cutthroat beer wars of the past is required to understand King Snedley’s unexpected appearance. — Bill Swank, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cutthroat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutthroat
Adjective
  • She is described as brusque, cantankerous, ruthless — and also a killer.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Such ruthless prioritization produced some admirable results.
    — Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Today in the age of AI, the threats are not just from a lone assassin's bullet but autonomous attack drones.
    — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Based on Nick Harkaway’s novel The Price You Pay, the show follows Jackie Price, a former drug queenpin hunted by seven elite assassins.
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Central to the exhibition is the tension between the honorable and the immoral, the appealing and the revolting.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial premiered at New York Film Festival last night and left many people wondering, Just how funny can a movie about both the terrible capacity of generative AI and the immoral people in charge of it be?
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Benjamin Rush, the Philadelphia physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, opposed executing even murderers.
    — Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Showing mercy to murderers historically has not been popular with voters.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Many Palestinians view it as corrupt and criticize its security cooperation with Israel.
    — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Journalist Christiane Amanpour, who stepped out for the occasion in a red jacquard pantsuit by Derek Lam, echoed Clooney’s focus on providing protection for those relentlessly working to hold corrupt systems accountable.
    — Christie Grimm, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • When the discussion came to his Oscar-winning turn in the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men (2007), the audience was shown the nail-biting coin toss scene between Bardem’s terrifying killer Anton Chigurh and supporting actor Gene Jones.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Following the original movie’s unique approach to the slasher genre that put the audience in the killer’s perspective, the sequel will expand on Johnny’s lore and deliver more brutally extreme and creative kills.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • An unscrupulous realtor had sold the family a home in an all-white neighborhood.
    — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In searching for her niece, Jones is forced to grapple with not only her past, but also an unscrupulous music industry.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • That doesn't enable cunning and unprincipled men to subvert the power of the people.
    — Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • Ditto his despicable aides and Cabinet members, his unprincipled sycophants and suck-ups.
    — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cutthroat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutthroat. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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