The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word CUT-THROAT
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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More clues leading to the result CUT-THROAT
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Ruthless" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ruthless = cut-throat.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CUT-THROAT mean?
CUT-THROAT noun- A murderer who slits the throats of victims.
- An unscrupulous, ruthless or unethical person.
- A three-player pocket billiards game where the object is to be the last player with at least one ball still on the table.
- Involving the cutting of throats
- Of or relating to a card game where everyone plays for him or herself rather than playing with a partner.
- Ruthlessly competitive, dog-eat-dog