cold shoulder
noun
: intentionally cold or unsympathetic treatment
got the cold shoulder from an old friend
Examples of cold shoulder in a Sentence
at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder
Recent Examples on the Web
American distillers have gotten a costly cold shoulder from Canada, where their exports plunged 85% earlier this year — topping broad declines in key international markets amid global trade tensions, a spirits industry group said Monday.
—
Joseph Hostetler, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
In the real world, this would be a cue for some halting, awkward small talk, perhaps, or a passive-aggressive nod of acknowledgement, or just a simple cold shoulder.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Taiwanese confidence in direct military intervention against a hypothetical invasion by China is faltering as President Donald Trump turns a cold shoulder to Taiwan.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Stories include a brick thrown through a home's window, slurs hurled at a public pool, middle fingers extended out of car windows, and an overall cold shoulder from neighbors.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold shoulder
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Joseph Hostetler, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
In the real world, this would be a cue for some halting, awkward small talk, perhaps, or a passive-aggressive nod of acknowledgement, or just a simple cold shoulder.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Taiwanese confidence in direct military intervention against a hypothetical invasion by China is faltering as President Donald Trump turns a cold shoulder to Taiwan.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Stories include a brick thrown through a home's window, slurs hurled at a public pool, middle fingers extended out of car windows, and an overall cold shoulder from neighbors.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold shoulder
Cite this Entry
“Cold shoulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold%20shoulder. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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