as in to isolate
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
cold-shouldered by his old friends after his family had lost all of its money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly
at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of cold-shoulder
Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2024
Like many filmmakers before him, Christopher Nolan had to endure some cold shoulders and false starts in his relationship with Oscar, but he’ll be welcomed into the club with open arms.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024
How likely, for example, are my wife and I to get back on speaking terms after giving each other a cold shoulder ever since the second Reagan administration?
—Bob Brody, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2024
Moscow blamed Israeli recklessness and turned a cold shoulder to Netanyahu.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 2019
See all Example Sentences for cold-shoulder 
Noun
Trump took this ideological variant of isolationism too far during his presidency, exhibiting a fondness for autocrats such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jung Un while giving a cold shoulder to the leaders of allied democracies.
—Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2024
Like many filmmakers before him, Christopher Nolan had to endure some cold shoulders and false starts in his relationship with Oscar, but he’ll be welcomed into the club with open arms.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2024
How likely, for example, are my wife and I to get back on speaking terms after giving each other a cold shoulder ever since the second Reagan administration?
—Bob Brody, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2024
Moscow blamed Israeli recklessness and turned a cold shoulder to Netanyahu.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 2019
See all Example Sentences for cold-shoulder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-shoulder
Verb
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Rahal’s current iteration of David includes milk protein isolate, collagen and whey protein, and is held together with allulose and polydextrose.Simone Melvin, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
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More than 100 bridges would be lost, power lines toppled and coastal towns isolated.Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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United are six games into the tenure of Ruben Amorim after the early season dismissal of Erik ten Hag, while Pep Guardiola’s City are going through a period of one win in 10 matches, an unprecedented run in the club’s recent history.Sam Lee, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024
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However, those cases are moving toward dismissal or are winding down ahead of Inauguration Day next month.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Perhaps because of the host’s divisive legacy, Springer was subsequently snubbed from the 2023 Emmy Awards’ In Memoriam segment.Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
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Sinema also snubbed the State Society of Arizona’s holiday reception last week in Washington, D.C., which was set to host her as a guest of honor to recognize her time as a senator since 2019, the Arizona Republic reported.Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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No spanking, humiliation, silent treatment, name calling, withholding of love and affection, or nonsensical punishments and consequences.Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 3 July 2024
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After her husband retired, the disengagement, silent treatment and lack of support that characterized the relationship worsened.Abby Ellin, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
Verb
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In the court's ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok's main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder, or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment.HALELUYA HADERO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 7 Dec. 2024
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Syria's government has rejected reports that President Bashar al-Assad has fled Damascus as insurgents opposing his regime continue their lightning offensive.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The dialogue was ham-handed, the performances stiff, the villain lame, the story stupid.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 July 2024
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The 100 percent carbon shaft of the Storm 2 is strong enough to withstand freakish plants that would normally end in snapping, light enough (at 75 grams per meter) to prevent fatigue after repetitive motion, and stiff enough to propel us forward.Stephanie Pearson, Outside Online, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
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As the weather cools, often in October, stop cutting blooms and let rose hips form.Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024
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Now, his 2025 budget proposal calls for cutting even more police positions, training divisions and mental health resources for officers.Dylan Sharkey, Chicago Tribune, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Luke Bryan feels slighted by recent election results — but not that one.Marina Watts, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024
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Arab Americans are one voting bloc that’s used to being slighted by both major parties.Abdallah Fayyad, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Thesaurus Entries Near cold-shoulder
Cite this Entry
“Cold-shoulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold-shoulder. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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