Only time I have used cutting words were mostly with my now ex after feeling like I beat my head against the wall saying the same thing over & over again without his getting it. When my patience is pushed beyond its limit cutting words sometimes are the way I respond & I don't care if conflict arises cause by that point I am usually angry.
My mother would pull the trying the guilt trip on me & my response was either "oh STOP it" or I would just ignore her let her stew in her expecting an apology from me cause she was never going to get it.
Always 2 sides to every story as to why someone responds the way they do. Sometimes broken thinking causes it, other times it can be out of frustration. I am sure there are many more reasons.
I have learned better communications skills however there are some people like the druggie people I constantly deal with up at the barn who just don't comprehend things said over & over again that cutting words just come out after being pushed. I don't hold my anger or frustration inside. I am like a pressure cooker. If I don't let steam off as irritation builds, I will explode & that would not be a good thing. The stuff I get angry about are things like them leaving the gate open & if my horse gets out of the rickety fencing area she would head down the driveway & who knows where she might end up....even with a sign on the gate they don't close it or lock it when they leave. I can only tell people things so many times along with the reason behind what I ask before being ignored triggers cutting words & a conflict especially when my horses safety is at stake