as in ruthless
not guided by or showing a concern for what is right
cutthroat business practices intended to drive competitors out of business
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of cutthroat
Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 30 May 2024
Cruel Intentions follows the elite students of Manchester College, where two ruthless step-siblings will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy, including seducing the daughter of the vice-president of the United States.
—Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2025
Most fundamentally, Trump concluded that the ascendancy of the liberal order was over and the world of cutthroat power politics was back.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cutthroat
Adjective
Contributor The investment world can be very cutthroat, and numerous businesses are competing to receive valuable capital investments that will allow the founders to grow their companies or make their exit.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 30 May 2024
Cruel Intentions follows the elite students of Manchester College, where two ruthless step-siblings will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy, including seducing the daughter of the vice-president of the United States.
—Anne Victoria Clark, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
In the nineties, Harvey Weinstein, at Miramax, spearheaded an aggressive campaigning style that made the awards ecosystem more cutthroat and bloated.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2025
Most fundamentally, Trump concluded that the ascendancy of the liberal order was over and the world of cutthroat power politics was back.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cutthroat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutthroat
Adjective
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The film follows Bryan, a Korean American teenager who wants out of his ruthless gang the Goblins, setting the stage for gang retribution against him.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
7 Mar. 2025
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But Harrison’s anti-expansionist successor, Grover Cleveland, abhorred the ruthless U.S. meddling in Hawaiian affairs.—
Robert W. Merry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Production is set to begin in coming months on the movie about a horticulturalist who moonlights as an assassin.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2025
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Twice in this story, Nadia describes her desire to become an assassin—not a killer for hire but someone who kills bad guys pro bono.—
Willing Davidson,
The New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Under Taliban rule, morality laws are strictly enforced, and activities considered immoral or against Islamic principles—such as pornography, adultery, or LGBTQ+ content—are harshly punished.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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Some view his proposal to take over Gaza as outlandish or immoral, and are no fans of Israel’s right-wing government.—
Katie Glueck,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Many of them were murderers, human traffickers, gang members and other criminals from the streets of dangerous cities all throughout the world.—
NPR,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
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At 14, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress — though arguably her role, as a girl searching for her father's murderer in the Wild West, was a lead part.—
Diana Pearl,
People.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The scene in which Anderson single-handedly faces down both the corrupt deputy and the Klan’s most murderous henchman is a master class in range.—
Mary McNamara,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2025
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Schwarz sees the blackout as a way for Americans to use their economic might in the form of their purchasing power to fight corporate greed and corrupt politicians.—
Anne Marie Lee,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Then there was the way Niecy Nash Betts delivered a poetic tribute to her friend Taylor, lauding the multifaceted artist for her talent as an actor, musician, choreographer and more; for her resilience amid personal strife; and, of course, for her killer body.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2025
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This is unnerving, especially after reports begin circulating of a serial killer targeting women her age.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Additionally, the industry has had issues in the past with unscrupulous companies.—
Kat Tretina,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Feb. 2025
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Pre-Purchase Fixes Getting fraudsters, bad actors and other unscrupulous abusers of returns policies out of the system is step number one.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The notorious Sackler family, opioid pushers responsible for countless cases of addiction and death, can’t seem to settle their legal problems without turning to some kind of unprincipled maneuver.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
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Objective voters who watched the recent documentary about Lev Parnas, once a Trump ally, should fear a redux of a Cabinet running the government for an angry, unhinged, unprincipled man.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Cutthroat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutthroat. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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