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cold-blooded

adjective cold-blood·ed \ ˈkōl(d)-ˈblə-dəd \

Definition of cold-blooded

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 play \ˈkōl(d)-ˈbləd\ :of mixed or inferior breeding
4 :noticeably sensitive to cold
—

cold-bloodedly

adverb
—

cold-bloodedness

noun

See cold-blooded defined for English-language learners

See cold-blooded defined for kids

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First Known Use of cold-blooded

1606

cold-blooded Synonyms

Synonyms
affectless, callous, case-hardened, cold-blooded, compassionless, desensitized, hard-boiled, hard-hearted, heartless, indurate, inhuman, inhumane, insensate, insensitive, ironhearted, merciless, obdurate, pachydermatous, pitiless, remorseless, ruthless, slash-and-burn, soulless, stony (also stoney), stonyhearted, take-no-prisoners, thick-skinned, uncharitable, unfeeling, unmerciful, unsparing, unsympathetic
Antonyms
charitable, compassionate, humane, kindhearted, kindly, merciful, sensitive, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, warm, warmhearted
Related Words
boorish, heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, uncaring, unfriendly, unloving, unthinking; grim, hard-bitten, harsh, heavy-handed, ironfisted, ironhanded, jackbooted, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out), oppressive, rough, rough-and-tumble, severe, sledgehammer, stern, tough, ungentle; abusive, acrimonious, disagreeable, hateful, ill-natured, ill-tempered, malevolent, malicious, mean, rancorous, spiteful, surly, virulent; barbarous, bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, evil-minded, savage, vicious; austere, cold, frosty
Near Antonyms
benevolent, benignant, gentle, kind; clement, indulgent, lenient, mild; cordial, friendly, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious; tolerant, understanding; affectionate, fond, loving

COLD-BLOODED Defined for English Language Learners

cold-blooded

adjective

Definition of cold-blooded for English Language Learners

  • : showing no sympathy or mercy : done in a planned way without emotion

  • : based on facts : not affected by emotions

  • biology : having cold blood : having a body temperature that is similar to the temperature of the environment

COLD-BLOODED Defined for Kids

cold-blooded

adjective cold-blood·ed \ ˈkōld-ˈblə-dəd \

Definition of cold-blooded for Students

1 :having a body temperature that varies with the temperature of the environment
  • Frogs are cold-blooded animals.
2 :lacking or showing a lack of normal human feelings
  • a cold-blooded criminal

Medical Dictionary

cold-blooded

adjective cold-blood·ed \ ˈkōl(d)-ˈbləd-əd \

medical Definition of cold-blooded

:having a body temperature not internally regulated but approximating that of the environment :poikilothermic
  • cold-blooded amphibians and reptiles
—

cold-bloodedness

noun

Learn More about cold-blooded

  1. See words that rhyme with cold-blooded Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cold-blooded Nglish: Translation of cold-blooded for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cold-blooded for Arabic speakers

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