the silent treatment

noun

: the act of ignoring someone because one is angry at him or her
Whenever she gets mad at me, she gives me the silent treatment.

Examples of the silent treatment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
However, if the passive-aggressive leader is not working with a coach (or open to feedback) don’t expect the silent treatment to stop anytime soon. Chris Westfall, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024 The best ways to respond to the silent treatment 1. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 5 Sep. 2024 Secondly, those who pander to the stereotype of women being incredible communicators have clearly never endured a night of the silent treatment or a blazing row over who was supposed to take the bins out. Charlotte Moore, refinery29.com, 8 Mar. 2024 Part of the reason for the silent treatment has been that Biden and Democrats are doing plenty of work themselves to sow doubt about the president’s future. Max Thornberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 July 2024 Cyrus would also give her the silent treatment for hours and days at a time, Firerose claimed. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 30 June 2024 China is also giving Canberra the silent treatment—suspending dialogues and refusing requests for official meetings. Michael Fullilove, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2022 Claudia is still giving him a version of the silent treatment after what happened with Lestat (Sam Reid), and their environment isn't helping things. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 13 May 2024 Dear Carolyn: How to deal with a long-term friend who punishes people — including her 90-year-old mother, her daughter, her husband and me — with the silent treatment, lasting weeks or months? Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024

Dictionary Entries Near the silent treatment

Cite this Entry

“The silent treatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20silent%20treatment. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!