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
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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
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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
-
Commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya have challenged their dismissals as unlawful.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
17 Oct. 2025
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Former agency employees doubted the administration’s claim that some dismissals were caused by coding errors.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
What Happens Next Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities have been significantly weakened, and its refusal to attend the Egypt summit further isolates it from broader regional diplomacy.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
-
By holding the form constant, Celmins isolates the matter.—
Harmon Siegel,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The business software maker on Wednesday unveiled an optimistic, multiyear financial roadmap that rejects the sluggish-growth narrative that has been dogging the stock.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
16 Oct. 2025
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The White House rejects the suggestion that any of the president's social media posts have been racist.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There’s a particular kind of Oscar-season tragedy that has nothing to do with surprise snubs.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
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For our full breakdown of the 2025 Emmys — including Kristen's thoughts on the best and worst moments of the ceremony, more analysis on those snubs and surprises, and more — listen to the full episode of The Awardist podcast below.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Abuse cuts across religion, race, and class.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
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The camera lingers over the $20 bill Maggie has left, and the film cuts to black.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cold shoulders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20shoulders. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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