cold-shoulder 1 of 2

as in to isolate
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely cold-shouldered by his old friends after his family had lost all of its money

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cold shoulder

2 of 2

noun

as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cold-shoulder
Noun
Trump took this ideological variant of isolationism too far during his presidency, exhibiting a fondness for autocrats such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jung Un while giving a cold shoulder to the leaders of allied democracies. Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2024 Like many filmmakers before him, Christopher Nolan had to endure some cold shoulders and false starts in his relationship with Oscar, but he’ll be welcomed into the club with open arms. Nate Jones, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024 How likely, for example, are my wife and I to get back on speaking terms after giving each other a cold shoulder ever since the second Reagan administration? Bob Brody, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2024 Moscow blamed Israeli recklessness and turned a cold shoulder to Netanyahu. Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 2019 See all Example Sentences for cold-shoulder 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-shoulder
Verb
  • More than 100 bridges would be lost, power lines toppled and coastal towns isolated.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Rahal’s current iteration of David includes milk protein isolate, collagen and whey protein, and is held together with allulose and polydextrose.
    Simone Melvin, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • United are six games into the tenure of Ruben Amorim after the early season dismissal of Erik ten Hag, while Pep Guardiola’s City are going through a period of one win in 10 matches, an unprecedented run in the club’s recent history.
    Sam Lee, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024
  • However, those cases are moving toward dismissal or are winding down ahead of Inauguration Day next month.
    Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Sinema also snubbed the State Society of Arizona’s holiday reception last week in Washington, D.C., which was set to host her as a guest of honor to recognize her time as a senator since 2019, the Arizona Republic reported.
    Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Perhaps because of the host’s divisive legacy, Springer was subsequently snubbed from the 2023 Emmy Awards’ In Memoriam segment.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • No spanking, humiliation, silent treatment, name calling, withholding of love and affection, or nonsensical punishments and consequences.
    Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 3 July 2024
  • After her husband retired, the disengagement, silent treatment and lack of support that characterized the relationship worsened.
    Abby Ellin, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
Verb
  • His presidency rejected the doctrines of Reaganomics, insisting instead that government could, and should, invest in its people.
    Lenwood V. Long, Sr., Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
  • The judge in that case on Monday rejected Trump’s request to toss out the convictions and indictment on a claim of presidential immunity.
    Dan Mangan, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The dialogue was ham-handed, the performances stiff, the villain lame, the story stupid.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 July 2024
  • The 100 percent carbon shaft of the Storm 2 is strong enough to withstand freakish plants that would normally end in snapping, light enough (at 75 grams per meter) to prevent fatigue after repetitive motion, and stiff enough to propel us forward.
    Stephanie Pearson, Outside Online, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • The Fed ultimately voted to begin cutting rates in September and again opted to lower rates at its November meeting, just days after the election.
    Julia Shapero, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Macy’s — Shares shed less than 1% after the department store chain cut its fiscal-year forecast .
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Luke Bryan feels slighted by recent election results — but not that one.
    Marina Watts, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Arab Americans are one voting bloc that’s used to being slighted by both major parties.
    Abdallah Fayyad, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Thesaurus Entries Near cold-shoulder

cold shoulder

cold-shoulder

cold-shouldered

Cite this Entry

“Cold-shoulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold-shoulder. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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