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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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

Documents in Sacramento’s courts do not indicate whether financial settlements were reached in connection with the dismissals.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Multiple criminal cases had involved Berlusconi, but most ended in dismissals.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 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

As his son Charles recounts in Swan Song, when Diana considered calling off her wedding to Prince Charles after suffering various snubs from the heir to the throne, Count Spencer flatly rejected his youngest daughter’s idea.

— Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of snubs

Verb

But in his Senate bid, Jackson now openly rejects corporate PAC money.

— Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
Related Stories To uncover the truth, Emma has no choice but to return to the Breton island of Kerlann, where tragedy struck and where everyone rejects her — including her son, who sees her as his father’s murderer.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of rejects

Verb

Thirteen are rated at very high risk or in default, and 23 have no rating from the big agencies, which cuts them from international bond markets.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Jim believes that cuts against the bearish argument that AI compute investments are out of control, with uncertain returns.

— Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of cuts

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cold-shouldering

cold shoulders

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“Cold shoulders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20shoulders. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cold shoulders

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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