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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in skipping
to fail to attend
a warning that she had been cutting too many classes without valid excuses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in veering
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
cut towards the goal, eluding a defender
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in intersecting
to divide by passing through or across
a long mountain range virtually cuts that country in half
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 cutting
Jack Vita, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Upon arrival, crews immediately began cutting holes in the roof for ventilation and took an offensive approach to battling the flames.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 23 May 2026
Not long after, Antonelli tried another move and ended up cutting another corner and bouncing through the grass.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
But instead of dipping south and cutting across Texas, the Southwest Chief takes a more direct route, chugging across the American West (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona).
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2026
Levu remained hot, banging home an RBI single in the bottom of the third, cutting the deficit by a run.
—Jack Vita, Oc Register, 23 May 2026
Committing to publish that number — and to cutting it in half — would signal that this administration means it.
—Nicole Branca, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026
In response, airlines have been busy cutting capacity growth and raising fees to offset higher jet fuel expenses.
—Mia Taylor, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Wrap each beetroot in foil (first cutting small ones in half lengthways and large ones into quarters), place on a baking tray and bake for about an hour.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 16 May 2026
Verb
Levu remained hot, banging home an RBI single in the bottom of the third, cutting the deficit by a run.
—Jack Vita, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
Upon arrival, crews immediately began cutting holes in the roof for ventilation and took an offensive approach to battling the flames.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 23 May 2026
Not long after, Antonelli tried another move and ended up cutting another corner and bouncing through the grass.
—Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026
But instead of dipping south and cutting across Texas, the Southwest Chief takes a more direct route, chugging across the American West (Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona).
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2026
Levu remained hot, banging home an RBI single in the bottom of the third, cutting the deficit by a run.
—Jack Vita, Oc Register, 23 May 2026
Committing to publish that number — and to cutting it in half — would signal that this administration means it.
—Nicole Branca, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026
In response, airlines have been busy cutting capacity growth and raising fees to offset higher jet fuel expenses.
—Mia Taylor, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Wrap each beetroot in foil (first cutting small ones in half lengthways and large ones into quarters), place on a baking tray and bake for about an hour.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting
Adjective
-
Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
-
The tracks are more vulnerable, biting, and self-aware than ever, and in some cases, feature lyrics pulled right out of Hjelt’s diary.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Its satirical aim feels spot-on.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Carter was the founder of the satirical monthly Spy and newsletter Air Mail.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
All are beaver-keen to have first chomp of this slice of Estelle-in-the-country.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
-
Covering 2,530 surface acres, Lake Moomaw features 43 miles of undeveloped shoreline, which means there are plenty of places to find your own little slice of secluded heaven all up and down the lake.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The crowd mumbled and shifted as the sinker came slicing downward at impossible speed, arms and legs pinned tight, chin tucked under a matte black helmet.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
Start by slicing one fresh jalapeño into thin rounds.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
For most Americans, skipping work for almost three months with little explanation would be a one-way ticket to unemployment.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
-
But there’s still more work ahead for SpaceX to perfect the Raptor 3 engine, and skipping the engine relight in space will likely prevent SpaceX from attempting a full orbital flight of Starship on the next launch.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
In past outbreaks of the Andes virus, taking steps such as isolating people who are sick — and asking those who aren’t sick but have been exposed to stay away from others — have brought outbreaks to an end.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
Plenty of teams have found joy by isolating Chelsea’s defenders with a long ball over the top and City are not above doing so.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
In practical terms, that is roughly a 1–2 percent reduction in total mission velocity change, which is the equivalent of shaving a few liters off every hundred liters in a long-distance road trip.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
-
Gonce's daily life revolves around caring for Jason — administering medicine, preparing food, bathing and shaving him and keeping him safe.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Red clover stands taller, is less amenable to mowing, and can be short-lived.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
-
Avoid mowing in the early morning or mid-day, as wet grass and strong sunlight can harm your lawn.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cutting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
