1
as in detached
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
the attendant's cold-eyed stare discouraged any thoughts about having a conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
under the cold-eyed gaze of the director, I auditioned for the part
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cold-eyed
Cats and dogs cold-eyed, so soon, so soon the dream over.
—
Chen Yuhong, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
Yet, however eager the demonstrations of Denmark’s contribution and NATO’s collective goodwill may be, a more cold-eyed rationale may lie beneath their surface.
—Lisa Abend, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
The patriarch would like the ladies and Coleman to join him forthwith in Mexico; the letter’s bearer – a cold-eyed brute named Amos Turlow – will serve as guide.
—Erin Douglass, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov. 2025
These were acts of opportunism by a cold-eyed pragmatist.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Acknowledging this is cold-eyed realism; humiliating and undercutting an ally, perhaps with worse to come in the form of a sweetheart deal for Moscow, is not.
—The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025
Chen Yuhong, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
Yet, however eager the demonstrations of Denmark’s contribution and NATO’s collective goodwill may be, a more cold-eyed rationale may lie beneath their surface.
—Lisa Abend, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
The patriarch would like the ladies and Coleman to join him forthwith in Mexico; the letter’s bearer – a cold-eyed brute named Amos Turlow – will serve as guide.
—Erin Douglass, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov. 2025
These were acts of opportunism by a cold-eyed pragmatist.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Acknowledging this is cold-eyed realism; humiliating and undercutting an ally, perhaps with worse to come in the form of a sweetheart deal for Moscow, is not.
—The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-eyed
Adjective
-
By one estimate, fewer than a quarter of the residential areas in many cities allow anything other than detached single-family homes.—
M. Nolan Gray,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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But also, the way that the hospice nurses are so compassionate and calm and present, but at the same time detached.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There are stories of a knife-wielding, bride-killing monster lurking in the woods, which Nicky’s big brother (Jeff Wilbusch’s icy Jules) may or may not have encountered as a child.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
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McKenna was reported missing on March 15 in Sioux Falls, while a significant early spring snowstorm brought in anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of snow, strong winds and icy roads across the eastern part of the state.—
Angela George,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The prospect of autonomy remains a distant and fading dream.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Since Iran’s first attacks on the Gulf, the atmosphere in Riyadh has remained calm, with the bombing on neighboring countries feeling like a distant phenomenon.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Miami-Dade cold case detectives say that this is just one of the cold cases they are dedicated to solving.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Take advantage of the soon-to-start farmers market with a deal on Nama’s cold press juicer.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, some good news is in the forecast for the drought- and heat-plagued West, as a cool, wet and even snowy pattern is forecast to bring some relief that's desperately needed across the region.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
In the Philippines, government offices are now open just four days a week and bureaucrats must limit the use of air conditioning to nothing cooler than 75°F (24°C).—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Lisa Rae Moss — serving a life sentence for her involvement in the 1990 murder of her husband, Mike Moss — sat in the witness box in a courtroom in Seminole, Oklahoma, on a frigid January morning in 2025, her hands knotted in her lap.—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
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If in the ground, tulips can survive outside in most USDA zones, but soil temperatures in pots never retain enough heat for spring flowering bulbs to survive frigid cold temperatures.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Temperatures will struggle to reach 50° on Saturday afternoon, with a chilly breeze.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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One big potential downside of the Air design is that all that mesh seems likely to make for some chilly nights outside the heart of summer.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Contact with the near minus-260-degree Fahrenheit liquid or its super‑cold vapors can cause severe injuries similar to burns, and materials exposed to such temperatures can become brittle and fail.—
Joel McPherson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
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Older roofs are more brittle and likely to fail when hail strikes a home than those that are newer.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cold-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold-eyed. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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