cutthroat

/ˈkʌtθroʊt/
adjectiveIntermediate
informal

Extremely competitive and ruthless, often involving aggressive or unethical behavior to succeed.

The startup scene is cutthroat, with companies doing whatever it takes to outdo each other.

The startup scene is extremely competitive and ruthless, with companies using aggressive tactics to outdo each other.

She described the fashion industry as cutthroat, where designers will sabotage each other to get ahead.

She described the fashion industry as extremely competitive and ruthless, where designers will sabotage each other to succeed.

💡

Often used to describe environments where success is prioritized over ethics or fairness.

Collocations

cutthroat competitionextremely fierce and ruthless competitioncutthroat industryan industry where companies or individuals use aggressive tactics to succeed

Synonyms

Antonyms

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use 'cutthroat' to describe situations where people or organizations are willing to harm others to succeed.

📖Word Origin

From the 16th century, referring to a person who cuts throats, later used metaphorically to describe ruthless competition.

📝Usage Notes

Commonly used in business, sports, and competitive environments to describe intense rivalry.

Word Breakdown

cut
to sever or divide
root
+
throat
the front part of the neck
root
English Dictionary