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
Relevance
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
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
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
-
Finances could bear the early dismissals, too.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Cowdin describes more subtle—but no less damaging—dismissals.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The standing side crunch isolates each side of your waist and strengthens your obliques.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Far from being mere idle chit-chat, small talk proves to be an invaluable ally in cultivating social health—a precious virtue in a world where hyperconnection increasingly isolates us from one another.—
Jeanne Ballion,
Vogue,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Saudi geopolitical researcher Salman Al-Ansari rejects claims that Riyadh is drifting ideologically or embracing Islamist movements, framing Saudi policy as interest-driven.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Tensions rise when Nora, a stage actress, rejects Gustav's offer to star in his comeback film and is forced to confront her feelings toward her estranged father.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Ahead of the 32nd annual Actor Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 1, streaming live on Netflix, read on for some of this year’s biggest snubs and shocks.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Other snubs include forwards Cole Caufield (20 goals), Alex DeBrincat (21 goals, 41 points), Alex Tuch, Troy Terry, Cutter Gauthier and Matthew Knies and defensemen Lane Hutson and Jackson Lacombe.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Counterintuitively, some analysts think that the investigation now makes near-term interest rate cuts less likely, because Powell and the other members of the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) will be determined to show the markets that they are guided by the data and not legal threats.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Cutting out any that have negative revenue revisions over the past month cuts that in half again to 100 stocks.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cold shoulders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20shoulders. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
