cold turkey

as in clam
a cold aloof person my new boss is a cold turkey and definitely not one for chitchat

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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 turkey Heavy drinkers who go cold turkey may experience mild to severe withdrawal symptoms, including shaky hands, headaches, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, and insomnia. Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2025 After a grim prognosis from a doctor, Sanchez was motivated to stop drinking cold turkey. Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 15 Dec. 2024 Rather than going cold turkey on nightly dinner dates, try scaling back to just weekends, then using Thursday nights to grab drinks with your college pals. Jenna Ryu, SELF, 13 Dec. 2024 Even with his cold turkey approach, Ryan might not be an outlier. Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for cold turkey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold turkey
Noun
  • Guests will enjoy briny oysters and clams, sweet Dungeness crab, and crisp whites, roses, and sparkling wines while enjoying stellar views of the Seattle skyline.
    Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Maybe towards the weirder side of, like, Chinese cuisine with, like…sea slugs and clams.
    Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Lancelot, still the Round Table’s greatest hero, is a bit of a cold fish with an unexpected role to play as the saga winds to its close.
    Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
  • This emulsified mixture of garlic, olive oil and egg is a classic accompaniment to fish (especially cold fish).
    Domenica Marchetti, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Noun
  • The beef sticks have a Feb. 10, 2026 expiration date.
    Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
  • According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, the affected Chomps beef sticks were shipped to retailers in California and Illinois.
    Julia Landwehr, Health, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But their plan was sidetracked after an iceberg the size of Chicago broke away from a nearby ice shelf in Bellingshausen Sea on January 13.
    Ashley Balzer Vigil, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Earlier this year, an iceberg the size of Chicago broke off the Antarctic Peninsula.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cold turkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20turkey. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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