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cut

cut

8 7.0
A sharp remark that is meant to hurt someone's feelings
  • noun
  • /kʌt/
  • Offensive
translation icon : insulto
  • "This is the most unkindest cut of all."
  • a deep cut
  • a thousand cuts
  • an unkind cut

Examples

  • You know, that seems to be a deep cut to me.

  • First cut's always the deepest.

  • And, and the things you say can cut very deep, right?

  • Someone left the comment that literally cut me from like the to my soul.

  • A death by a thousand cuts, if you like.

    Blog text (13)
  • No, the first cut is the deepest.

  • But the saddest cut of all Someone had to turn you in Like a common criminal Like a wounded animal

  • Michael Jordan: The disappointment of not making the varsity team was so deep, it was like a cut.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Her few friends suffered similar cuts and, by adolescence, recognized the sexual rivalry in them.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Her harsh words were an unkind cut that left him feeling hurt and rejected.

Synonyms

insult
vscut
  • Offensive
313 1.3

A rude remark or action that hurts someone's feelings

is aimed specifically to wound someone's feelings
shot
vscut
  • Offensive
175 5.9

A short angry remark meant to hurt or criticize someone

is intended to wound feelings rather than simply provoke
barb
vscut
  • Offensive
14 6.4

A short sharp remark meant to hurt or criticize someone

is focused on emotional wounding rather than just criticism
low blow
vscut
  • Offensive
8 5.5

A remark or action that unfairly hurts someone's feelings

is an emotionally wounding statement without implying unfairness
stinger
vscut
  • Offensive
1 7.3

A short hurtful remark that makes someone feel upset

is meant to wound but not always so sharply
insulting remark
vscut
  • Offensive
1 3.2

A rude comment meant to hurt someone or show no respect

is meant to hurt feelings rather than only offend
sharp-edged comment
vscut
  • Offensive
6.6

A remark that is harsh and meant to hurt someone's feelings

is specifically an emotionally wounding statement rather than general critique
squelch
vscut
  • Offensive
8.8

A sharp remark that stops someone speaking and shames them

is focused on hurting feelings rather than silencing or shaming

Antonyms

342 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

Idioms

to cut a rug
  • Archaic
6 8.4

To dance with a lot of energy and have fun

6 5.2

Very similar in character and background

to cut the cord
  • Informal
5 6.6

To stop depending on someone or something and become independent

Buy or sell directly from the maker without using other sellers

4 4.3

Clearly better than others in quality or style

Remove slow official rules to make things happen faster

2 7.4

To beat someone completely in a competition or argument

To remove official rules and extra paperwork that delay action

1 8.8

Choose to act now or step aside so someone else can

1 9.9

The way someone looks or acts that shows what they are like

Deliberately do something that hurts you more than the person you want to punish

1 7.7

Have a strong effect on many people or things

to cut to the quick
  • Literature
1 7.9

To hurt someone's feelings very deeply

1 7.7

To become independent from your parents and live on your own

1 9.6

To pass gas from your bottom, usually said as a joke

1 6.8

To become independent from parents and make your own decisions

to cut a dash
  • Informal
7.2

To attract attention by looking smart and stylish

to cut a figure
  • Informal
7.6

To stand out and make people notice you

To criticize someone who stands out to make them seem less successful

To spend only what you can afford

To gain first experience in a job or activity

To leave a place quickly, often to avoid trouble

Start talking about the most important details of a topic

To live within the money you have

8.4

To betray or hurt someone to get an advantage

mad as a cut snake
  • Australian
9.9

Feeling extremely angry and acting wildly

To check something carefully before you do it to avoid mistakes

Compounds

599 3.2

A government decision to reduce the taxes people have to pay

79 3.3

A decision by a government or organization to use less money

57 2.8

Less money given to a department or service in a budget

31 2.8

A reduction in the money a worker receives from their job

27 4.2

Easy to see and understand

25 3.4

A shape removed from paper or cloth with scissors

23 4.4

Separated by cutting from a larger thing

13 3.8

Having a neat, smart look and tidy clothes

low-cut
  • NSFW
10 3.5

Clothes with a low neckline or back that show more skin

final cut
  • Specialized
9 4.2

A finished and approved version of a film ready for release

Simple and clear because it follows fixed rules

7 3.0

A very short men's hairstyle with the hair kept very close to the head

6 2.7

A piece of meat taken from a certain part of an animal

rough cut
  • Specialized
5 4.8

An early edited version of a film before final changes

cut-up
  • Archaic
3 7.8

A person who acts silly to make others laugh

3 2.7

A plant or food cut very recently so it still looks and smells new

3 1.4

A fall in the amount you pay for something

2 3.4

A smaller amount of pay that a worker receives

2 5.3

A type of glass shaped with many flat, shiny sides for decoration

1 2.8

A piece of beef from one part of a cow used for cooking

1 4.1

Clear and simple, not likely to change

1 4.9

A short route through a neighborhood that saves time by avoiding busy roads

jump cut
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A sudden change between two film shots that makes action or time seem to skip

1 4.2

A short haircut with hair standing upright like a brush

1 2.5

A piece of meat from a pig sold for cooking, like loin or shoulder

1 3.3

A price lower than the usual one

cut-in
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A short shot shown in a scene to give a detail or reaction

cut-in
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A short announcement that interrupts a program to give local news or alerts

1 3.7

Offered at a lower price than usual, often with lower quality

deep cut
  • Jargon
1 8.4

A song on an album that is not a hit but loved by fans

1 2.7

A piece of meat that shops sell soon after they prepare it

A piece of meat from a lamb that you cook

A piece of meat from an adult sheep that people cook and eat

A piece of meat from a young calf for eating

2.0

A lower price than normal

cut-and-thrust
  • Specialized
9.7

A fight with swords or knives using cutting and stabbing moves

3.0

Sold at a lower price than usual

2.7

An event when shops sell goods at much lower prices for a short time to clear old stock

A piece of meat with a lot of fat

jump-cut
  • Specialized
7.6

A sudden cut between shots in a film that shows time passing or makes the action jump

rough-cut
  • Specialized
4.9

Shaped but not smoothed or fully finished

sword-cut
  • Archaic
8.1

A scar on the skin made by a sword

9.9

A low opening in clothing that shows the lower part of the breasts

3.7

Clothing made wider than usual to fit loosely

How Hurtful

slur
  • Offensive
54 7.4
insult
  • Offensive
313 1.3
cut
  • Offensive
8 7.0
barb
  • Offensive
14 6.4
slight
594 1.2

Surface Forms

cut singular
cuts plural

Etymology

Cut as a hurtful remark is like a small knife wound made with words, so a cutting comment feels sharp and painful to the listener.