Synonyms of slash-and-burn

slash-and-burn

adjective

ˈslash-ən(d)-ˈbərn 

as in ruthless

having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings

under his slash-and-burn management ethic, even longtime employees were summarily downsized for the sake of corporate competitiveness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ruthless
• merciless
• stony
• take-no-prisoners
• abusive
• brutal
• pitiless
• hard
• callous
• oppressive
• remorseless
• vicious
• harsh
• heartless
• hateful
• inhumane
• malicious
• compassionless
• inhuman
• cruel
• unsparing
• soulless
• stern
• insensitive
• unmerciful
• tough
• insensate
• grim
• uncharitable
• hard-hearted
• cold-blooded
• unsympathetic
• unfeeling
• obdurate
• affectless
• savage
• indurate
• thick-skinned
• pachydermatous
• hard-boiled
• desensitized
• thoughtless
• severe
• unthinking
• uncaring
• mean
• case-hardened
• rough
• boorish
• heedless
• rough-and-tumble
• inconsiderate
• heavy-handed
• ironhearted
• spiteful
• unfriendly
• malevolent
• ungentle
• stonyhearted
• barbarous
• unloving
• virulent
• sledgehammer
• acrimonious
• rancorous
• disagreeable
• bestial
• brutish
• ironhanded
• surly
• jackbooted
• hard-bitten
• cold
• ironfisted
• knock-down, drag-out
• austere
• ill-natured
• evil-minded
• ill-tempered
• frosty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• charitable
• sympathetic
• humane
• sensitive
• warm
• compassionate
• merciful
• kind
• gentle
• benevolent
• mild
• kindly
• lenient
• indulgent
• tender
• friendly
• softhearted
• warmhearted
• kindhearted
• gracious
• cordial
• understanding
• loving
• tenderhearted
• good-natured
• tolerant
• benignant
• affectionate
• fond
• clement
• good-tempered

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of slash-and-burn

That stark reality forced both sides to wage slash-and-burn propaganda campaigns designed to sow doubt and disinformation among their enemies. — Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025

The Ukrainian experience here points to a Russian slash-and-burn policy. — Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2025

Here and there, a plume of smoke rose up from a field; slash-and-burn farming, locally known as tavy, is still practiced here. — Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 30 Sep. 2025

The slash-and-burn approach to funding academic research counters that goal. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2025