1
as in detached
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
the attendant's cold-eyed stare discouraged any thoughts about having a conversation
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2
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
under the cold-eyed gaze of the director, I auditioned for the part
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Recent Examples of cold-eyed
These were acts of opportunism by a cold-eyed pragmatist.
—
James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Acknowledging this is cold-eyed realism; humiliating and undercutting an ally, perhaps with worse to come in the form of a sweetheart deal for Moscow, is not.
—The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025
These were acts of opportunism by a cold-eyed pragmatist.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Acknowledging this is cold-eyed realism; humiliating and undercutting an ally, perhaps with worse to come in the form of a sweetheart deal for Moscow, is not.
—The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025
That tense meeting of the Harris clan over Kamala’s career is a metaphor for a generation of idealists passing the torch to their more cold-eyed kids.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024
Better, these analysts argue, to approach the rivalry in realpolitik terms—as a cold-eyed contest over power—and leave values to the side.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2021
Photo: Butch Dill/Associated Press For a political class that likes to think of itself as a hardened cadre of cold-eyed realists, the leadership of the Republican Party has indulged in comically wishful thinking about the most consequential figure in recent political history.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2023
But there’s no denying that his cold-eyed cost-benefit analysis was usually grounded in facts, however inconvenient.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2023
James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Acknowledging this is cold-eyed realism; humiliating and undercutting an ally, perhaps with worse to come in the form of a sweetheart deal for Moscow, is not.
—The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025
These were acts of opportunism by a cold-eyed pragmatist.
—James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Acknowledging this is cold-eyed realism; humiliating and undercutting an ally, perhaps with worse to come in the form of a sweetheart deal for Moscow, is not.
—The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025
That tense meeting of the Harris clan over Kamala’s career is a metaphor for a generation of idealists passing the torch to their more cold-eyed kids.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2024
Better, these analysts argue, to approach the rivalry in realpolitik terms—as a cold-eyed contest over power—and leave values to the side.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2021
Photo: Butch Dill/Associated Press For a political class that likes to think of itself as a hardened cadre of cold-eyed realists, the leadership of the Republican Party has indulged in comically wishful thinking about the most consequential figure in recent political history.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 7 Aug. 2023
But there’s no denying that his cold-eyed cost-benefit analysis was usually grounded in facts, however inconvenient.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-eyed
Adjective
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In one image, a firefighter assisted the man out of the tube as colleagues held aside the detached pieces.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
People.com,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Recently remodeled, the property offers a two-story main house plus a guest suite atop the detached garage, for a combined total of four bedrooms and four baths in roughly 2,800 square feet.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Gelato is very similar to ice cream, but only relies on milk instead of heavy cream for a slightly lighter, icier texture than traditional homemade ice cream.—
Erin Hooker,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 June 2025
-
Stock tip: Migrate to icier territories… Aston Villa 6/1 Last five results: WLWWW A two-goal deficit to overcome in the Champions League quarter-final return leg against Paris Saint-Germain next week likely spells the end of Villa’s European aspirations.—
Brett Koremenos,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Astronomers compare them to a powerful lighthouse that shines for milliseconds in the middle of a rough, distant sea.—
Jorge Garay,
Wired News,
23 Aug. 2025
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In Sheth’s images, the subjects’ backgrounds appear almost as dreamscapes, or portals to distant universes.—
M. Z. Adnan,
New Yorker,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Both surfaces are covered with exotic ices, and an understanding of their properties at the frigid temperatures on Pluto would be a key component of the mission.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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The room covered in white snow is kept at a frigid 10 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, which honestly feels amazing after being in the Florida heat.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Coco Cold Brew tops coconut water over ice with cold brew foam.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The former includes espresso, americano, cappucino, latte, chaga mocha, cold brew and drip coffee.—
Endia Fontanez,
AZCentral.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The fashion statement of the rangy frontman served a more practical purpose when three-fourths through the two-hour show, a torrent of wind whipped through the stadium, bringing with it a chilly downpour that would last the duration of the concert.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
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Paul Hollywood was presumably in his dressing room, putting on a crisp oxford shirt in a shade of blue meant to make his eyes pop—a vivid cerulean, a chilly Arctic sky, or, occasionally, a fuller, velvety navy just across the color wheel from his tan.—
Ruby Tandoh,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Stay cool with clothing: Select lightweight and loose-fitting outfits for enhanced comfort.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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With cooler temperatures dropping into the lower 70s next week, Vail Resorts has announced tentative opening dates for its five Colorado ski resorts.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This is probably the better option for those with very thick or brittle hair.—
Lisa DeSantis,
Glamour,
21 Aug. 2025
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Why Automation Falls Short In Finance Most enterprise finance teams still run on a precarious stack of legacy spreadsheets, brittle robotic process automation (RPA) scripts and semi-integrated systems.—
Carlos Vega,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cold-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold-eyed. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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