as in dismissals
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly
at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in isolates
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
cold-shouldered by his old friends after his family had lost all of its money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cold shoulders
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
Noun
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
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The Interior Department, for instance, told employees to take home their phones and laptops to keep an eye out of dismissals.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
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Finances could bear the early dismissals, too.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By holding the form constant, Celmins isolates the matter.—
Harmon Siegel,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
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This is not a wallowing cruiser that isolates the driver in a leather cocoon, floating along, not entirely sure where the front end is.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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International pressure on Israel to end the war is increasing, with a growing list of countries deciding recently to recognize Palestinian statehood, which Israel rejects.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
Arkansas Online,
28 Sep. 2025
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When Rabbit asks to be the one to adopt Stacey after her graduation, Evelyn abusively rejects the notion and Rabbit is crushed.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For our full breakdown of the 2025 Emmys — including Kristen's thoughts on the best and worst moments of the ceremony, more analysis on those snubs and surprises, and more — listen to the full episode of The Awardist podcast below.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Sep. 2025
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Share Who were this year's snubs and surprises?—
Saba Hamedy,
NBC news,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The episode cuts to black before it is revealed who or what is Paddy's target, but in real life, Arthur lived for decades longer, dying in 1915, per TIME.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
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When play crossed Round Swamp Road, the roadway that cuts between Bethpage Black and separates the 14th and 15th holes, this tournament flew into the stratosphere.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cold shoulders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20shoulders. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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