1
as in detached
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
the attendant's cold-eyed stare discouraged any thoughts about having a conversation
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2
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
under the cold-eyed gaze of the director, I auditioned for the part
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Recent Examples of cold-eyed
These were acts of opportunism by a cold-eyed pragmatist.
—
James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Acknowledging this is cold-eyed realism; humiliating and undercutting an ally, perhaps with worse to come in the form of a sweetheart deal for Moscow, is not.
—The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025
That tense meeting of the Harris clan over Kamala’s career is a metaphor for a generation of idealists passing the torch to their more cold-eyed kids.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024
Better, these analysts argue, to approach the rivalry in realpolitik terms—as a cold-eyed contest over power—and leave values to the side.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2021
Photo: Butch Dill/Associated Press For a political class that likes to think of itself as a hardened cadre of cold-eyed realists, the leadership of the Republican Party has indulged in comically wishful thinking about the most consequential figure in recent political history.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2023
But there’s no denying that his cold-eyed cost-benefit analysis was usually grounded in facts, however inconvenient.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2023
James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Acknowledging this is cold-eyed realism; humiliating and undercutting an ally, perhaps with worse to come in the form of a sweetheart deal for Moscow, is not.
—The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025
That tense meeting of the Harris clan over Kamala’s career is a metaphor for a generation of idealists passing the torch to their more cold-eyed kids.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024
Better, these analysts argue, to approach the rivalry in realpolitik terms—as a cold-eyed contest over power—and leave values to the side.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2021
Photo: Butch Dill/Associated Press For a political class that likes to think of itself as a hardened cadre of cold-eyed realists, the leadership of the Republican Party has indulged in comically wishful thinking about the most consequential figure in recent political history.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2023
But there’s no denying that his cold-eyed cost-benefit analysis was usually grounded in facts, however inconvenient.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-eyed
Adjective
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One adult who lives in the detached garage and six adults and three cats who live in an adjacent home were displaced by the fire, according to the post.—
Graeme Taskerud,
The Denver Post,
28 Feb. 2025
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These parents fulfill their child’s basic needs—food, shelter and clothing—but remain emotionally detached and disengaged.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Her makeup, too, was equally icy, with a metallic silvery-white shadow brushed under her brow as a highlight and dramatic black eyeliner winged all the way out to the outer corner of her brows, plus a pair of light blue-gray contacts enhanced by majorly fluttery, lush lashes.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
9 Dec. 2024
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White cautioned those traveling north of Indianapolis this weekend, however, should be mindful of potentially snowier, icier road conditions.—
Christopher Cann,
The Indianapolis Star,
27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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If your screen ever felt just a little too small, the Samsung Odyssey G9 makes that a distant memory.—
Juhi Wadia,
PCMAG,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Resembling a distant cousin to the truffula tree in Seussical botany, this shaft of sturdy stem with intermittent globes of golden treats is a pollinator’s dream.—
New York Times Games,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Blue Ghost also plans to capture high-definition imagery of a total eclipse as the Earth blocks the sun just before a lunar sunset ushers in frigid lunar night on March 16.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
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After weeks of frigid temperatures and wintry conditions, the Baltimore region is finally getting a break with warmer weather likely for the rest of this week.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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South of the Arctic’s polar vortex is the jet stream, a river of west to east air that flows five to nine miles above ground, and helps keep the pole’s cold air confined to the Arctic.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025
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But as the lingerie giant negotiates around a more cautious consumer, colder weather and tariff uncertainty out of the Trump White House, Hillary Super’s longer-term plans are coming into focus.—
Evan Clark,
WWD,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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During the colder months, that uniform relies on a lightweight jacket to keep me comfortable on chilly LA mornings.—
Rachel Trujillo,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
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On West 57th Avenue in Olde Town Arvada, a handful of people with backpacks and belongings gathered in front of the library and soaked in the sun on a recent chilly morning, including one accompanied by a small dog wearing a sporty green jacket.—
John Aguilar,
The Denver Post,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This isn’t some fashion formula that’s difficult to decode; these beautiful dresses are easily toughened up with slouchy leather boots to create a cool juxtaposition for day and look just as swell with open toe mules for springtime evenings.—
Adam Mansuroglu,
WWD,
24 Feb. 2025
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Andreeva, who announced herself to the tennis world at the 2024 Australian Open aged 16, has spoken about learning to stay cool on court in the last few months.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The revelation prompted further alarm over the future of the brittle truce and hostage-for-prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel.—
Johnatan Reiss,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
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These scenarios would challenge AI agents to navigate prevailing themes about liberal international order and free trade that may prove brittle in the coming years.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cold-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold-eyed. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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