cutthroat

American  

[kuht-throht] / ˈkʌtˌθroʊt /

noun

1. a person who cuts the throat of another; a murderer.

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adjective

1. murderous.

2. ruthless.

   cutthroat competition.

3. pertaining to a game, as of cards, in which each of three or more persons acts and scores as an individual.

Etymology

Origin of cutthroat

First recorded in 1525–35; cut + throat

Example Sentences

German carmaker BMW reported a three percent fall in annual profit on Thursday, despite US tariffs and cutthroat competition in China, far smaller than the double-digit plunges seen at rivals.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Many other famous people have done that, even in Banks’ famously cutthroat industry.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

It’s also before things get cutthroat and they really have to eliminate each other.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

This shift—combined with persistent brand-name shortages—opened the door for telehealth firms and compounded “copycats,” introducing cutthroat price competition years earlier than the industry expected.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

The state had also bulldozed some lakes in the valley and stocked them with rainbow and cutthroat trout, and there were half a dozen manicured campgrounds along the route.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• ferocious
• vicious