cold shoulders 1 of 2

noun

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cold-shoulders

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cold-shoulder
as in isolates
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely cold-shouldered by his old friends after his family had lost all of its money

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 shoulders
Noun
There are screaming matches and cold shoulders. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 These rules were administered via cold shoulders and whispers. — Alessandra Schade, Time, 5 Aug. 2025 My first issue, in January, launched Nan Goldin’s campaign against the Sackler family for their role in the opioid epidemic, and this action has inspired cold shoulders from the philanthropic class. — David Velasco, Harpers Magazine, 18 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold shoulders
  1. dismissals
  2. isolates
  3. snubs
  4. rejects
  5. cuts
  6. repulses
Noun
  • This came after the company fired three safety and alignment researchers, though OpenAI said the dismissals were not tied to employees voicing safety concerns.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Only 14 cases led to suspensions and seven to expulsions or dismissals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismissals
Verb
  • The defense team plans to employ Othram to conduct a Y-STR test, a method that isolates DNA from the Y chromosome to generate a profile of a male contributor in samples where female DNA is predominant.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The field is monitored by a superheterodyne circuit that isolates different frequencies in the field and looks for changes in intensity that indicate the presence of, among other things, metal objects.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of isolates
Noun
  • As his son Charles recounts in Swan Song, when Diana considered calling off her wedding to Prince Charles after suffering various snubs from the heir to the throne, Count Spencer flatly rejected his youngest daughter’s idea.
    — Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Its complete omission from the 2026 Latin Grammy nominations was one of the most notable snubs on Wednesday morning.
    — Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of snubs
Verb
  • However, a large percentage of the Brazilian electorate also consistently rejects the prospect of voting for another Bolsonaro for president.
    — David Unsworth, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Human Rights Watch said those expulsions amounted to war crimes, a charge that Israel rejects.
    — Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of rejects
Verb
  • Someone slaps a strip of medical tape across their lips, promises you deeper sleep, fewer snores and a sharper jawline by morning, then cuts to a dreamy sunrise shot.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Nonetheless, housing is another issue that cuts across national borders.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of cuts
Verb
  • Her widowed aunt plays chaperone as Susanna attends heady lectures and repulses her many suitors.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Sigmund Freud believed that every crush has a strand of disgust, that people are attracted to what repulses them.
    — Daniel Felsenthal, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of repulses

Browse Nearby Words

cold-shouldering
cold shoulders
cold-shoulders
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Cite this Entry

“Cold shoulders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20shoulders. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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