Removed ruthlessly (4)
I believe the answer is:
axed
'removed ruthlessly' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for axed that I've seen before include "Abandoned project using chopper" , "Abandoned, given the chop" , "Discontinued with hatchet?" , "Chopped or terminated" , "Cut; terminated" .)