cold-shoulder 1 of 2

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

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cold shoulder

2 of 2

noun

as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cold-shoulder
Noun
And contrary to what Tyler might hope, neither would an American cold shoulder, which would only entrench Israeli hawks -- as Eisenhower's distant approach to Israel did to the hard-liners of Ben-Gurion's generation. Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2013 Apparently undeterred by Greenland and Denmark's cold shoulder, Trump announced Monday that his son Donald Trump Jr. was making an impromptu visit to the island. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2025 But a year ago, the veteran, who was draft pick in 2009, turned a cold shoulder to the Bronx Bombers, choosing to return to the Dodgers. Jon Vankin, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025 Constituencies that seemed tailored to endorse Carter gave him a cold shoulder. Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for cold-shoulder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-shoulder
Verb
  • The apparent détente marks a drastic departure in U.S. policy toward the Kremlin: The Biden White House had sought to isolate and sanction Russia over its full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
    Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Being a primary caregiver for any child in the U.S. is inherently challenging, stressful, isolating, and a full-time job.
    Rachelle Rutherford, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Danielle Sassoon, Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, resigned in refusal to carry out the Justice Department’s directive to file the dismissal.
    Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025
  • The Houston Chronicle reported that NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston has informed employees still in their probationary period to prepare for dismissal.
    Matt Robison, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Challengers, notably snubbed by the Oscars, and A Real Pain, each won two awards, but one of the Real Pain honors was a tie for the best comedy win with Deadpool & Wolverine.
    Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The state of North Carolina went 0-for-3 Thursday night at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as linebacker Luke Kuechly and wide receivers Steve Smith and Torry Holt were all snubbed.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • No spanking, humiliation, silent treatment, name calling, withholding of love and affection, or nonsensical punishments and consequences.
    Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 3 July 2024
  • 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
  • Never the favorite of his party's professional advisers, Merz was twice rejected as Merkel's successor as party leader, in 2018 and 2021, before his doggedness won out in 2022.
    Thomas Escritt, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Today, far-right parties like the AfD seek to embrace a different model that rejects political integration in favor of an economic union along the lines of earlier, postwar integration.
    TIME, TIME, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The Arctic air will blast across the the Midwest with subzero wind chill temperatures and stiff northwesterly winds, AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
    Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Yip says features and design elements, everything like a pocket placement to how a jacket may work with gloves—or even how smooth or stiff the zipper sliding action is—is all under consideration when designing.
    Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Second half Utah cut the deficit to one after outscoring Sacramento 13-5 to start the second half, but the Kings responded with an 11-1 run to push the lead back to double digits.
    Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2025
  • People will chew on the Broadway first of an Othello directed and lead-produced by black men—Leon and Brian Anthony Moreland, respectively—and cut their assumptions about that to fit their pre-existing views.
    Maya Singer, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • But don’t slight Southern California’s earlier signature trees.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2025
  • More than 65 breweries will be present, and while San Diego is slighted — the only local in the lineup is North Park Beer Co. — this is a heavy-hitting group: Russian River, Trillium, Garage Project, Three Floyds, Cellarmaker, Alchemist and the like.
    Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cold-shoulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold-shoulder. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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