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 the present, they’re awkwardly reunited for his brother’s destination wedding in Barcelona, following two years of mutual silent treatment.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Destructive silent treatment creates an imbalanced power dynamic in the relationship.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 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
See All Example Sentences for silent treatment
Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Destructive silent treatment creates an imbalanced power dynamic in the relationship.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 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
See All Example Sentences for silent treatment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silent treatment
Noun
-
Several Maryland school systems announced early dismissals Friday as forecasters warned of worsening weather conditions later in the day.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Feb. 2026
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That includes an unusual dismissal deal Garza reached last year with Austin police officer Karl Krycia.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The base lurks awkwardly on a windblown corner, all cold shoulders and sharp elbows, resenting its neighbors: a public-housing project, a softball field, the FDR Drive, and the bridge footings.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
28 Jan. 2026
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But the internet seems to have already turned a cold shoulder towards the product.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Braced by that humiliating rebuff, the Service wasted no time in getting serious and rallying around reform.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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The matter-of-fact rebuff feels very French, very Oklou.—
Anna Gaca,
Pitchfork,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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People who have taken corticosteroid medicines for conditions like seizures, gastric reflux, cancer and transplant rejection are more susceptible, as are those with celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver disease, multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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That is usually a sign of imminent death for a bill, and most legislators prefer to avoid the humiliation of public rejection.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Silent treatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silent%20treatment. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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