cutting 1 of 3

1
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin a frigid day with a cutting wind that made it seem even colder

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2
3

cutting

2 of 3

noun

as in slice
a piece that has been separated from the whole by cutting a bag full of grass cuttings

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cutting

3 of 3

verb

present participle of cut
1
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
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
as in mowing
to shorten the standing leafy plant cover of you need to cut the lawn very soon—before it becomes a jungle

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6
7
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

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
Verb
Corner-cutting climbers could be in real danger. Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025 The program generates revenue for states to fund clean energy development and energy efficiency initiatives while cutting carbon pollution roughly in half, a rate of emissions reductions far faster than the national average. Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 SoFi’s Thomas worries that the market may be too frothy, although—given the Fed will likely continue cutting—that froth will be around for a while. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025 Cutting costs doesn’t have to mean cutting quality. Jessica Stroud, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 Lake Ridge capped the drive with a 13-yard run from Edwards, cutting the lead down to 42-28. Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Sep. 2025 Next week’s inflation data could confirm whether or not the Federal Reserve is making the right move in cutting interest rates this fall. Sarah Min, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025 Spend some time worrying about that thing that’s actually quite meaningless, getting mad at that person cutting me off in traffic? Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025 To get the season off to a festive start, the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, which Opera San Jose joined this year, hosted a ribbon-cutting Friday afternoon at the California Theatre. Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting
Adjective
  • The characters have this sharp, biting, British humor.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
  • There’s Bud the biting cat, played by a feline named Tonic and who deserves a three-picture deal.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Mineral explorers hoping to meet the growing demand for rare earths are vying for a slice of nearly $1 billion in Brazilian funding to help make their projects a reality in a country with the largest reserves after China.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Even more impressive is the rib sandwich, a wondrously messy concoction with a short, meaty slab served with bones and all between two slices of plain white bread, with plenty of sauce and slaw, too.
    Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Through its technology, the Polish startup wants to enable robots to perform human-like tasks, from opening a heavy door to slicing fruits and vegetables.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Rather than efficiently dicing and slicing your produce, a dull knife actually requires more force, which can cause you or someone else in your household to get hurt.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Almost skipping back towards the drumkit, Townshend came racing back to the mic ahead of a bluesy late interlude on stage in the Windy City, the home of the electrified artform.
    Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Consider skipping the drive-thru and, instead, grab the items to make on your own pumpkin spice cold foam.
    Cody Godwin, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Pre-approve thresholds for isolating assets, notifying regulators, or switching comms modes.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Both intimate and isolating, a multi-day river trip allows for a deeper connection to the surrounding environment while offering near-complete isolation from the external world.
    Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The lone artisan in his shop shaving out a single bow at a time from a stave of wood was a thing of the past.
    Clare Conley, Outdoor Life, 18 Sep. 2025
  • In that case, 33-year-old TJ Hoover woke up in the operating room to find people shaving his chest, bathing his body in surgical solution and talking about harvesting his organs.
    Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Recharge takes about two hours (if needed, the Luba will return to charge and resume mowing without requiring intervention).
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Just before overseeding, reduce the mowing height of the existing grass by 25 percent.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Medrano’s editorial eye—born from her archive of Players magazines—lingers on sensuality’s softness without diluting its danger.
    Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Some of the erosion of credibility, young American Jews across the country tell me, stems from those who insist all criticism of Israel is antisemitic, diluting the term's power.
    Andrew Weinstein, Time, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cutting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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