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
as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
the cutting side of the sword blade
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3
as in satiric
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
her cutting comments serve only one purpose: to make someone cry
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1
as in slicing
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife)
I cut my hand on a piece of broken glass
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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
as in isolating
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
the snobbish lady cut anyone who didn't meet her standards of wealth and social standing
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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
6
as in diluting
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
the fruit juice was so cut with water that it was barely a fruit-flavored drink
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7
as in veering
to depart abruptly from a straight line or course
cut towards the goal, eluding a defender
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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
as in analyzing
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships
whichever way you cut it, we won't be seeing any profits from the business for at least three years
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cutting
CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump has repeatedly blasted Powell for the Fed not cutting interest rates as much and as quickly as the president has demanded since entering the White House in January 2025.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
Around age 11, Saleem began giving haircuts to his cousin and quickly grew fascinated with the art of cutting hair.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
This brought a Stop Use Order down on the cheese cutting and repackaging room.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
For example, Style3D integrates AI with 3D technology to digitize the entire process from style generation to precision adjustment, cutting the approval cycle for first samples from one week to just one day.
—Li Jun, Footwear News, 11 Jan. 2026
To do so means cutting ties with the disreputable agencies that got them here, and Jonah won’t do it.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 11 Jan. 2026
With no legislative solution in sight, consumers are cutting expenses elsewhere to maintain their health insurance.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Once the flowers begin to wilt and die, cutting them off immediately is best to prevent them from going to seed, which can unnecessarily deplete the plant’s energy and resources.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
The president argued that inflation was already low enough to start cutting rates.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for cutting
Adjective
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Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
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The conservative activist’s 42-minute video posted the day after Christmas quickly spread, prompting stepped up immigration enforcement, frozen federal funds and more biting rhetoric against the Somali community from President Donald Trump.—
Adjective
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But it’s set apart from the rest of her work by a long, satirical section sending up gothic fiction and its fans.—
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But the tone is often more satiric than somber, Park highlighting Man-su’s foibles and insecurities.—
Noun
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Of course, McDonald’s is not the only company to offer a slice of American culture to the world.—
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This New Orleans coffee chain gets Caluda’s cake and sells it by slice (or by the whole cake if your early/lucky enough).—
Verb
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Hurricane Milton also opened Milton Pass, slicing Stump Pass Beach State Park in half and destabilizing nearby barrier islands, which could lead to worsening beach erosion.—
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Letting that beautiful pie set up before slicing into it.—
Verb
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And is that really such an offense, on par with skipping a wedding?—
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This myth costs money because skipping the test means guessing.—
Verb
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While Paris is often framed as endlessly romantic, Wells says the day-to-day realities can be isolating.—
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Rather than isolating treatment from real life, Peak Path Health incorporates family engagement to help loved ones understand addiction beyond surface behaviors.—
Verb
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Millions of Americans are shaving down their grocery budgets and putting off buying a home as wages fail to meet rising costs of living.—
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Emma Stone Stone kicked off the year with a bang—or, rather, a pixie—after shaving her head for her role in Bugonia.—
Verb
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As a rule of thumb, continue mowing warm-season lawns normally until night temperatures fall consistently below 70°F.—
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The standard fit is a single foil shaver, perfect for detailing edges or mowing over stubbled necklines.—
Cite this Entry
“Cutting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cutting. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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