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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Example 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
Apparently undeterred by Greenland and Denmark's cold shoulder, Trump announced Monday that his son Donald Trump Jr. was making an impromptu visit to the island. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2025 But a year ago, the veteran, who was draft pick in 2009, turned a cold shoulder to the Bronx Bombers, choosing to return to the Dodgers. Jon Vankin, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025 Constituencies that seemed tailored to endorse Carter gave him a cold shoulder. Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024 All this is to say: The 82nd Golden Globes mark yet another occasion in which Cyrus gave convention a cold shoulder, alongside Jeremy Strong and his oversized tinted sunnies (plus mint green bucket hat). Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for cold-shoulder 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-shoulder
Verb
  • Unlike traditional weightlifting, which often isolates specific muscle groups, functional fitness workouts engage multiple muscles simultaneously, promoting better body mechanics and reducing the risk of injury.
    Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Over the last few weeks, flu and other illnesses have forced schools across the country to temporarily close in an effort to isolate cases, curb the spread, maintain staffing levels and deep clean classrooms.
    Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Just four months later, he was asked to hold the fort as interim head coach at one of the world’s biggest clubs following Ten Hag’s dismissal.
    Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
  • An ex-member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), whom President Trump fired last month, filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging her dismissal and asking a federal court to reinstate her to the board.
    Emily Peck, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • On Oscar nominations morning, she was sadly snubbed.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2025
  • Lindor, the heart and soul of the Mets, was snubbed last season for the All-Star Game and a Gold Glove, despite being an elite defensive shortstop.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2025
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
  • But Hamas has accused Israel of dragging its feet on allowing aid into Gaza, one of the conditions of the first phase of the agreement, a charge Israel has rejected as untrue.
    James Mackenzie, Emily Rose, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Jordan is home to more than 2 million Palestinians and, along with other Arab states, has flatly rejected Mr. Trump's plan to relocate civilians from Gaza.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The Arctic air will blast across the the Midwest with subzero wind chill temperatures and stiff northwesterly winds, AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
    Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Yip says features and design elements, everything like a pocket placement to how a jacket may work with gloves—or even how smooth or stiff the zipper sliding action is—is all under consideration when designing.
    Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Then, prune overgrown trees and shrubs, trim tall grasses and weedy areas, mow regularly to keep your lawn cut close, and consider calling a chimney sweep to clean out your chimney.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2025
  • In late 2022 and early 2023, which saw hundreds of thousands of tech jobs cut, the hiring rate bounced between 3.8% and 4.1%.
    Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The new league could add more costs for the NBA and its owners but also tarnish its brand or create friction for European fans of existing teams who do not join the NBA’s league or feel slighted by it.
    Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Trump, as is his custom, makes everything about himself and feels slighted by events that few others would consider offensive.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025

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 Feb. 2025.

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