silent treatment

noun

: an act of completely ignoring a person or thing by resort to silence especially as a means of expressing contempt or disapproval

Examples of silent treatment in a Sentence

ever since our run-in at the party she's been giving me the silent treatment
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In some practical ways, the show remains weighted toward Judas, as Christ gets a big standout number near the top of the second act, but then goes on to pretty much give Kings Herod and Pilate and the audience the strong, silent treatment after that. Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025 Campaigning for a job is stressful enough without unearned silent treatment from an organization someone’s pining for. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 Brit greets everyone, including Kelli, who opts for the ever-mature silent treatment. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 22 June 2025 Modern nineteenth-century prisons in various parts of the world, including in the British empire, began to model their own prisons off of the Eastern State Penitentiary, instituting separate and silent treatments that suppressed language. Amir Hussain june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for silent treatment

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of silent treatment was in 1825

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Cite this Entry

“Silent treatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silent%20treatment. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

silent treatment

noun
: an act of completely ignoring a person or thing by being silent especially as a means of expressing contempt or disapproval
gave him the silent treatment after their breakup
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