Synonyms of cold shoulders

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dismissals
• silent treatments
• rebuffs
• snubs
• repulses
• rejections
• brush-offs
• ostracisms
• banishments
• blackballs
• kiss-offs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• open arms
• acceptances
• embraces
• welcomes
• welcome mats
• glad hands

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• isolates
• rejects
• high-hats
• cuts
• repulses
• snubs
• stiff-arms
• repels
• slights
• neglects
• stiffs
• forgets
• brushes (aside or off)
• overlooks
• passes over
• disdains
• rebuffs
• shrugs off
• scorns
• spurns
• ostracizes
• disregards
• overpasses

Example Sentences

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