cold turkey

noun

Definition of cold turkeynext
as in clam
a cold aloof person my new boss is a cold turkey and definitely not one for chitchat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 turkey Even if head coach Mike Elko and his staff stopped recruiting cold turkey today and didn't pick up their phones until after signing day, this class would already be in some rarefied air. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026 For advertisers, going cold turkey on clicks means shifting strategy from traffic quantity to conversion quality. — Ivan Doruda, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2026 How to Reset Caffeine Tolerance Without Crashing If cold turkey sounds brutal, taper. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026 Unfortunately, going cold turkey off a central nervous system depressant like GHB has some pretty unfortunate side-effects. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cold turkey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold turkey
  1. clam
  2. cold fish
  3. stick
  4. iceberg
Noun
  • Layer potatoes, corn, sausage, cherry tomatoes, peppadew peppers and clams.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Artful pizzas go beyond margherita with varieties like a clam pie with funky lemons, confit shallots, and raclette mornay sauce, or a chilaquiles slice with chorizo.
    — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 June 2026
Definition of clam
Noun
  • That impulse extends to dealing with occasional rude customers at her day gig, where the coworkers are nice but the boss, family-business heir Maxwell Sterling (Peter Serafinowicz), is one nasty cold fish.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
  • Lancelot, still the Round Table’s greatest hero, is a bit of a cold fish with an unexpected role to play as the saga winds to its close.
    — Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
Definition of cold fish
Noun
  • The waterproof vinyl material can handle bathroom conditions, with easy peel-and-stick installation.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
  • Place a stick or two of chalk in a drawer or toolbox to maximize its effectiveness and keep your items free from rust damage.
    — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 5 July 2026
Definition of stick
Noun
  • From May through September, long daylight hours also leave more time for kayaking among icebergs, exploring lava fields, horseback riding, geothermal pools, farm stops and wildlife sightings, from puffins to Icelandic horses.
    — Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Oakleaf Lettuce Loose-leaf lettuce like oak leaf lettuce tends to cost considerably more than head lettuce such as iceberg because their production, harvesting, and packaging is more involved.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 29 June 2026
Definition of iceberg

Browse Nearby Words

cold sweat
cold turkey
cold war
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cold turkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20turkey. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cold turkey

Nglish: Translation of cold turkey for Spanish Speakers

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