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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in dismissal
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder
Synonyms & Similar Words
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-shoulder
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026 Over the next half decade, Biden cold-shouldered the Turkish government. —Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025 Stories include a brick thrown through a home's window, slurs hurled at a public pool, middle fingers extended out of car windows, and an overall cold shoulder from neighbors. —Cate Charron, IndyStar, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cold-shoulder
Verb
Consignment stores rely on stocking items that feel current, so anything that screams a specific past era—think cold-shoulder tops or a bandage dress—isn’t likely to make the cut. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026 Over the next half decade, Biden cold-shouldered the Turkish government. —Kaya Genç, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
In the real world, this would be a cue for some halting, awkward small talk, perhaps, or a passive-aggressive nod of acknowledgement, or just a simple cold shoulder. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025 Stories include a brick thrown through a home's window, slurs hurled at a public pool, middle fingers extended out of car windows, and an overall cold shoulder from neighbors. —Cate Charron, IndyStar, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cold-shoulder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-shoulder
Verb
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Add to that the stresses of living in a small environment with other people and trying to accomplish a lot of tasks in a habitat that is isolated and dangerous.— Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
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O'Hara said those delays in January were isolated and a direct result of Operation Metro Surge's drain on local resources.— Conor Wight, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The write-off trap There’s a specific kind of institutional damage that happens when hiring managers and leaders respond to the stare with dismissal rather than diagnosis.— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
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Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is speaking out as a wide-ranging review of the football program unfolds after Sherrone Moore's dismissal.— Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Despite a decisive Fan Vote win, first-time nominees New Edition were snubbed for an induction, as was Mariah Carey on her third consecutive nomination.— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
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Guerin snubbed the forward from Team USA’s Olympic roster this year, despite leading all Americans in points.— Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the present, they’re awkwardly reunited for his brother’s destination wedding in Barcelona, following two years of mutual silent treatment.— Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
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Destructive silent treatment creates an imbalanced power dynamic in the relationship.— Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to a California audit last month which analyzed open network traffic across more than 7,600 popular websites scanned from California, over half (55%) of sites set advertising cookies even after users explicitly rejected them.— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
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His dwarfism led his mother to reject him, a natural response when something seems wrong.— Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Despite the Reina Sofía’s many refusals to lend the work to various institutions around the world, its rebuff of the Guggenheim’s request carries a particular sting because the Basque Country has long held that the painting belongs in the place where the depicted tragedy occurred.— News Desk, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026
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The latest rebuff of state overreach was the dismissal last week of the highly questionable felony case against respected Waukegan City Clerk Janet Kilkelly brought by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.— Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Generally, my blowout starts to get limp and stiff around day three (despite sleeping in overnight blowout rods), but the week of my Cécred test, my mane still looked fresh-out-the-salon by day five.— Kiana Murden, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2026
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Testers noted how plush or stiff the mattress felt after consistent sleep on the mattresses, from a boxed memory foam to a hybrid bed.— Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When the Broncos cut Greenlaw, the 49ers wasted no time in bringing him back to pair with middle linebacker Fred Warner in hopes of reviving one of the NFL’s top linebacker tandems.— Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
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Jacksonville general manager James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen cut their teeth as part of the Rams organization, learning from GM Les Snead and coach Sean McVay.— Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cold-shoulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/cold-shoulder. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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