cold-blooded
adjective
cold-blood·ed
ˈkōl(d)-ˈblə-dəd 
1
a
: done or acting without consideration, compunction, or clemency
cold-blooded murder
b
: matter-of-fact, emotionless
a cold-blooded assessment
2
: having cold blood
specifically
: having a body temperature not internally regulated but approximating that of the environment
3
or coldblood
: of mixed or inferior breeding
4
: noticeably sensitive to cold
cold-bloodedly
adverb
cold-bloodedness
noun
Examples of cold-blooded in a Sentence
a cold-blooded criminal who never once showed an ounce of mercy to his victims
the cold-blooded selfishness shown by the miser when confronted by people in need
a cold-blooded assessment of the situation showed that the company needed either to lay off workers or go bankrupt
he may not be as fancy as the other horses they own, but that cold-blooded gelding is safe and gentle
Recent Examples on the Web
Emmy winner Barkin's take on Smurf in Animal Kingdom is as a fierce, cold-blooded matriarch who calls all the shots — but the real-life inspiration behind her character wasn't quite the queenpin she's made out to be onscreen.
—
Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 17 June 2025
As the temperatures continue to rise in Fort Worth, these cold-blooded creatures will also be out and about, either seeking rays or shade to regulate their internal body temperatures.
—Alyssa Cooper, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2025
Yet, instead of universal outrage, attempts to justify this atrocity have already begun — as if these cold-blooded murders can somehow be rationalized by events in Gaza thousands of miles away.
—Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2025
Imagine a little village where secrets abound and one bad turn may lead one into a world of crime, cover-ups, and cold-blooded murder.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold-blooded
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Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 17 June 2025
As the temperatures continue to rise in Fort Worth, these cold-blooded creatures will also be out and about, either seeking rays or shade to regulate their internal body temperatures.
—Alyssa Cooper, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2025
Yet, instead of universal outrage, attempts to justify this atrocity have already begun — as if these cold-blooded murders can somehow be rationalized by events in Gaza thousands of miles away.
—Laurence Milstein, Sun Sentinel, 4 June 2025
Imagine a little village where secrets abound and one bad turn may lead one into a world of crime, cover-ups, and cold-blooded murder.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold-blooded
Cite this Entry
“Cold-blooded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold-blooded. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cold-blooded
adjective
cold-blood·ed
ˈkōl(d)-ˈbləd-əd
: having a body temperature not internally regulated but approximating that of the environment : poikilothermic
cold-blooded amphibians and reptiles
cold-bloodedness
noun
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