# cutthroat

/ˈkətˌθɹoʊt/ (US) · /kˈʌtθɹəʊt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cutthroat
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

describing a situation where people are very competitive and willing to do anything to win, even if it hurts others. It often feels like a 'cutthroat' environment where you have to be the best to survive.

For teachers: characterised by extreme competition and a willingness to use ruthless or dishonest tactics to achieve success. Often used to describe professional environments or markets where survival depends on outperforming others.

## Examples

- The tech industry is a cutthroat place to work.
- In a cutthroat market, companies often lower their prices to the point where they barely make a profit.
- The cutthroat nature of the publishing world means that even established authors must constantly produce high-quality work to maintain their visibility and sales.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.