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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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-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
-
The title may be clinical and detached; the image on its cover is anything but.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The fire also damaged two neighboring houses and a detached garage.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
March 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Mulligan, who similarly usually gives off a warm presence onscreen, is icy and sharp here, her Lindsay stuck up and miserable in the life she's made for herself but completely trapped by her own ego and selfishness.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Hot honey blonde is shaping up to be the color of the season, with tons of celebrities already ditching their icy tones for a warmer shade.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
During the 2020 pandemic in particular, this became an appealing message, giving viewers a place to hang out with optimistic, hopeful TV friends who were delivering comfort from the recent — but now seemingly all-too-distant — past.—
Jennifer Armstrong,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Across Chinese university campuses, students are also checking out books on Iran to learn why the US wanted to go to war with a country that to them seems distant and mysterious.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Garlic is a slow-growing and cold-hardy plant that’s usually planted in garden beds in autumn, long after the rest of the garden has been put to bed for the year.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
-
After nearly five decades in space, engineers have had to steadily power down heaters and instruments while making sure the spacecraft do not get so cold that key systems, including fuel lines, are put at risk.—
Eric Mack,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Made with a lightweight cotton fabric, this bucket hat will keep your face cool on balmy days.—
Claire West,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
-
People will see a ton of cool, diverse ideas from us.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As avid plant and food lovers, little brings us more joy and hope after a long, frigid winter than seeing spring's first shoots pop up out of the soil.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Apr. 2026
-
San Francisco’s ceiling as an offense is contingent on Devers producing like a three-time All-Star, but Devers is far from the only Giant who is off to a frigid start at the plate.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sunday showers followed by a shot of chilly weather early next week may bring the region patchy areas of frost.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
As the weather warms, spring’s mornings and evenings are still chilly, which is why this leather jacket is a staple worth adding to your closet.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The National Transportation Safety Board traced that explosion to a brittle crack in a plastic gas pipe manufactured in 1970.—
Lexi Salazar,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
All along the road, trees raised their scrawny hands, white-knuckled against the brittle sky.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cold-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold-eyed. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
