as in to isolate
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
cold-shouldered by his old friends after his family had lost all of its money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly
at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cold-shoulder
Cate Charron, IndyStar, 2 Sep. 2025
These rules were administered via cold shoulders and whispers.
—Alessandra Schade, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
The hugs stop and the arguments, the phone obsession, and the huffing cold shoulder starts.
—Cyndy Etler, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
My first issue, in January, launched Nan Goldin’s campaign against the Sackler family for their role in the opioid epidemic, and this action has inspired cold shoulders from the philanthropic class.
—David Velasco, Harpers Magazine, 18 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cold-shoulder
Noun
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
These rules were administered via cold shoulders and whispers.
—Alessandra Schade, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
The hugs stop and the arguments, the phone obsession, and the huffing cold shoulder starts.
—Cyndy Etler, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
My first issue, in January, launched Nan Goldin’s campaign against the Sackler family for their role in the opioid epidemic, and this action has inspired cold shoulders from the philanthropic class.
—David Velasco, Harpers Magazine, 18 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for cold-shoulder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-shoulder
Verb
-
These challenges are not isolated to any one country, and they cannot be solved through a single blueprint.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Police said the incident was isolated and domestic in nature, and there is no threat to the public.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Mathieu played just two collegiate seasons before his dismissal in 2012 and subsequent entry into a drug rehabilitation program.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
At Rufus King International Middle School, students must store their phones in a vault each morning and retrieve them at dismissal.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The popular opinion in football circles is that Bill Belichick was snubbed from Canton.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Chase Infiniti has received her flowers from BAFTA after being snubbed by the Oscars.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the present, they’re awkwardly reunited for his brother’s destination wedding in Barcelona, following two years of mutual silent treatment.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
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Destructive silent treatment creates an imbalanced power dynamic in the relationship.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Supervisors Shanti Landon, Anthony DeMattei and Suzanne Jones made up the three votes rejecting the loan.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Kaiser flatly rejects the notion that the strike is about anything other than reimbursement.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Braced by that humiliating rebuff, the Service wasted no time in getting serious and rallying around reform.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The matter-of-fact rebuff feels very French, very Oklou.—
Anna Gaca,
Pitchfork,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Testers noted how plush or stiff the mattress felt after consistent sleep on the mattresses, from a boxed memory foam to a hybrid bed.—
Kristi Kellogg,
Architectural Digest,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Next, in another bowl, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks.—
Kathryn Gregory,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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With the benefit of hindsight, analysts and investors have blamed much of Kraft Heinz’s downward spiral on the brutal cost-cutting strategy imposed after the merger.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
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Beijing has spent decades growing its trade ties and bankrolling projects in the region, to boost transportation links and cut energy costs – cementing its own influence along the way.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cold-shoulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold-shoulder. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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