cold-blooded

adjective

ˈkōl(d)-ˈblə-dəd How to pronounce cold-blooded (audio)
Definition of cold-bloodednext
1
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings a cold-blooded criminal who never once showed an ounce of mercy to his victims

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2
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling the cold-blooded selfishness shown by the miser when confronted by people in need

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3
as in stoic
not feeling or showing emotion a cold-blooded assessment of the situation showed that the company needed either to lay off workers or go bankrupt

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4
as in hybrid
or coldblood being offspring produced by parents of different races, breeds, species, or genera he may not be as fancy as the other horses they own, but that cold-blooded gelding is safe and gentle

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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-blooded From a long-quiet wingman who dispensed with six years of muttering under his breath and spoke with a cold-blooded certainty that announced his arrival as a force to be reckoned with. — Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 1 May 2026 The research suggests that warm-blooded fish species, which include great whites, shortfin makos and salmon sharks, burn about four times more energy than cold-blooded species and will increasingly be forced into cooler regions with less food. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 Crowds returned to the Cal Expo Pavilion on Sunday to get an up close look at thousands of cold-blooded creatures at the 28th annual Sacramento Reptile Show. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 19 Apr. 2026 At the same time, the people making the party’s spending decisions can be cold-blooded in the other direction; if better opportunities emerge, or if Platner slips way behind Collins, Democrats could prioritize other states. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cold-blooded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-blooded
  1. ruthless
  2. icy
  3. stoic
  4. hybrid
  5. merciless
  6. cold
  7. mixed
  8. frigid
Adjective
  • Natural selection is usually ruthless about weeding out traits with no function.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Supergirl builds to a final showdown with Krem of the Yellow Hills, the ruthless Brigands leader who murdered Ruthye’s family and poisoned Krypto early in the film.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of ruthless
Adjective
  • Multiple moons in the outer solar system — Saturn's Enceladus and Jupiter's Europa, for example — host big liquid-water oceans beneath their icy shells.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 July 2026
  • From aqua suede to icy satin, from stilettos to ballet flats and beach-ready sandals, whatever your bridal style calls, for there’s a pair of blue shoes to match.
    — Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 2 July 2026
Definition of icy
Adjective
  • The most remarkable performance in the film, however, may be that of real-life counselor Annette Deao, whose firm hand and sympathetic guidance lend Union County its stoic nature.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • Vladimir Petković, the usually stoic 62-year-old coach of Algeria, said he got goosebumps from the way Lawrence has treated his team.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2026
Definition of stoic
Adjective
  • The state also has goals, including some that have been in place since 2012, that set declining limits on smog-causing pollutants and required automakers to sell increasing percentages of electric and hybrid vehicles through 2025.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • The Elora bathroom boasts the type of hybrid wet/dry layout that has become increasingly prevalent in Europe and gained a little steam in the US.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026
Definition of hybrid
Adjective
  • The poem that precedes it, the Iliad, is a cruel and beautiful work, the ultimate story of war; the Odyssey has its warlike passages, but its central energies seem almost commonplace beside the merciless fury of Achilles.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
  • Humility is the posture; the standard is merciless.
    — Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of merciless
Adjective
  • Next to him, the waters of Lincoln’s Sinking Spring still ran cold.
    — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • If time doesn’t allow for spa treatments, a morning swim in the indoor pool accompanied by a sauna and cold plunge in one of their two thermal suites might suffice.
    — Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • Despite its mixed reception and the eventual drama surrounding its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, and the following implosion during awards season, it got nominated for best picture at the 2023 Academy Awards, and Vaccarello got close to Oscar glory.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026
  • Within individual subgroups, results are mixed and don’t show uniform, systemwide gains.
    — Kendall Deas, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
Definition of mixed
Adjective
  • But experts say the optimal temperatures are far from frigid.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • But that’s not how exhaustion typically works during a seventeen-hour climb in frigid weather.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of frigid

Browse Nearby Words

cold
cold-blooded
cold-bloodedly
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Cite this Entry

“Cold-blooded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold-blooded. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of cold-blooded for Spanish Speakers

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