as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly
ever since our run-in at the party she's been giving me the silent treatment
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Recent Examples of silent treatment
In some practical ways, the show remains weighted toward Judas, as Christ gets a big standout number near the top of the second act, but then goes on to pretty much give Kings Herod and Pilate and the audience the strong, silent treatment after that.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025
Brit greets everyone, including Kelli, who opts for the ever-mature silent treatment.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 22 June 2025
Modern nineteenth-century prisons in various parts of the world, including in the British empire, began to model their own prisons off of the Eastern State Penitentiary, instituting separate and silent treatments that suppressed language.
—Amir Hussain
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
This silent treatment was later clarified to be part of McIlroy’s strategy to eliminate distractions.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for silent treatment
Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025
Brit greets everyone, including Kelli, who opts for the ever-mature silent treatment.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 22 June 2025
Modern nineteenth-century prisons in various parts of the world, including in the British empire, began to model their own prisons off of the Eastern State Penitentiary, instituting separate and silent treatments that suppressed language.
—Amir Hussain
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
This silent treatment was later clarified to be part of McIlroy’s strategy to eliminate distractions.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for silent treatment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silent treatment
Noun
-
The dismissal represented an abrupt end to a case with little recent precedent in Alameda County.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
-
All of these cases ended with either dismissals or acquittals.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In the real world, this would be a cue for some halting, awkward small talk, perhaps, or a passive-aggressive nod of acknowledgement, or just a simple cold shoulder.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Taiwanese confidence in direct military intervention against a hypothetical invasion by China is faltering as President Donald Trump turns a cold shoulder to Taiwan.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There was a unilateral rebuff toward the idea that the industry is experiencing a drummer shortage in general.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Combining rigorous research and captivating narration, Kateryna Zarembo debunks common myths about the region, such as its long-standing gravitation towards Russia and its rejection of everything Ukrainian.—
Nelly Klos
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Named after the island’s Indigenous name, Rapa Nui, the drug rapamycin was initially developed as an immunosuppressant to prevent organ transplant rejection and to improve the efficacy of stents to treat coronary artery disease.—
Ted Powers,
The Conversation,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silent treatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silent%20treatment. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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