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
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Recent Examples of slash-and-burn
Trump’s slash-and-burn attack on our nation’s arts and culture industry can only be blamed for so much.
—
Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 18 July 2025
The state initiatives have a markedly different character from Trump’s slash-and-burn approach, symbolized by Musk’s chain saw-brandishing appearance at a Conservative Political Action Committee appearance in February.
—Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2025
That practice, known as slash-and-burn farming, actually began 12,000 years ago, though it didn’t get started in earnest in North America until 1500 when European settlers arrived.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 3 July 2025
The work draws from images of gold mining in the Amazon, referencing extractive practices like logging and slash-and-burn farming.
—Nel-Olivia Waga, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Trump’s slash-and-burn approach to reform — on issues as varied as immigration enforcement to Medicaid to Veterans Affairs and COVID-19 shots, just for starters, will take a strong pushback just to land somewhere near the ever-elusive sensible center.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
Supporters see him as an eccentric genius whose slash-and-burn management style is key to his success.
—Kirsten Grind, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Musk’s unorthodox—and often secretive—slash-and-burn tactics often sowed chaos during his tenure in the government.
—Nik Popli, Time, 29 May 2025
Of course, given the dependence of many practitioners on public commissions, opposition to slash-and-burn fiscal policy is also very much in their own interest.
—Ian Volner, Artforum, 28 May 2025
Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 18 July 2025
The state initiatives have a markedly different character from Trump’s slash-and-burn approach, symbolized by Musk’s chain saw-brandishing appearance at a Conservative Political Action Committee appearance in February.
—Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2025
That practice, known as slash-and-burn farming, actually began 12,000 years ago, though it didn’t get started in earnest in North America until 1500 when European settlers arrived.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 3 July 2025
The work draws from images of gold mining in the Amazon, referencing extractive practices like logging and slash-and-burn farming.
—Nel-Olivia Waga, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Trump’s slash-and-burn approach to reform — on issues as varied as immigration enforcement to Medicaid to Veterans Affairs and COVID-19 shots, just for starters, will take a strong pushback just to land somewhere near the ever-elusive sensible center.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
Supporters see him as an eccentric genius whose slash-and-burn management style is key to his success.
—Kirsten Grind, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Musk’s unorthodox—and often secretive—slash-and-burn tactics often sowed chaos during his tenure in the government.
—Nik Popli, Time, 29 May 2025
Of course, given the dependence of many practitioners on public commissions, opposition to slash-and-burn fiscal policy is also very much in their own interest.
—Ian Volner, Artforum, 28 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slash-and-burn
Adjective
-
The initial plan was to use the Indigenous Taino population to work the fields, but this population was quickly decimated by genocidal conquest, ruthless working conditions as well as novel diseases brought by the Europeans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 July 2025
-
The role of Chris Partlow, Marlo Stanfield's top lieutenant and ruthless hitman, was the first screen credit for Gbenga Akinnagbe.—
Derek Lawrence,
EW.com,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Private equity moving into professional sports conjures the same fears of merciless efficiency in an industry driven by sentimentality, but Arougheti brushes off the concerns, arguing that institutional capital will increase profitability and allow owners to invest more in their teams.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
21 July 2025
-
Beyond the numbers is the human toll of Trump’s merciless campaign.—
South Florida Sun Sentinel,
Sun Sentinel,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slash-and-burn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slash-and-burn. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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