COLD SHOULDERS Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

cold shoulders 1 of 2

noun

plural of cold shoulder

as in dismissals

treatment that is deliberately unfriendly at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cold-shoulders

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cold-shoulder

as in isolates

to deliberately ignore or treat rudely cold-shouldered by his old friends after his family had lost all of its money

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of cold shoulders

Noun

There are screaming matches and cold shoulders. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 These rules were administered via cold shoulders and whispers. — Alessandra Schade, Time, 5 Aug. 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold shoulders

Noun

Editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer, and reporter Lara Korte at Stars and Stripes – a military news outlet that is partially funded by the Pentagon – claimed their dismissals were retaliatory and violated the First Amendment.

— Miles J. Herszenhorn, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Jeremiah Johnson, vice president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, said asylum rates appear to be one factor, but the dismissals cannot be attributed to a single reason.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of dismissals

Verb

Rather than chart her full life, the Hindi-language film, starring Sneha Kumari in the title role, isolates a single 48-hour standoff in which 2,000 armed police and paramilitary personnel surrounded a village to capture her, then 17 years old.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
The camera isolates everyone’s hands, the plating, and the micro-adjustments.

— Henry Metz, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of isolates

Noun

Its complete omission from the 2026 Latin Grammy nominations was one of the most notable snubs on Wednesday morning.

— Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2026
After the Emmy morning announcement, Vanity Fair’s experts assessed the snubs and surprises of the nominations, which may provide insight for your own ballot.

— Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of snubs

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cold-shouldering

cold shoulders

cold-shoulders

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“Cold shoulders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20shoulders. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of cold shoulders

noun

verb

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