cold turkey
1 of 2noun
1
: abrupt complete cessation of the use of an addictive drug
also : the symptoms experienced by a person undergoing withdrawal from a drug
2
: unrelieved blunt language or procedure
3
: a cold aloof person
cold-turkey
ˈkōld-ˈtər-kē 
transitive verb cold turkey
2 of 2adverb
: all at once : abruptly: such as
a
: without a period of gradual adjustment, adaptation, or withdrawal
quit smoking cold turkey
b
: without preparation
a new player who started the season cold turkey
Synonyms
Noun
- cold fish
- iceberg
- icicle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun I tried lots of ways to stop smoking, even cold turkey. my new boss is a cold turkey and definitely not one for chitchat
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2022 Given the obstacles against going cold turkey, many companies have sought to supplement Chinese production rather than leave the country altogether. Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2022 His last attempt in August, a cold turkey gambit without nicotine replacement therapy, triggered an excruciating maelstrom of cravings that lasted several months. New York Times, 2 Aug. 2022 First off, there’s no need to go cold turkey or follow any other kind of horrible detox program. Elijah Rawls, Men's Health, 14 June 2022 Certainly, going cold turkey would reverberate negatively on the European populace and economy, sending oil prices even higher. Paul Hockenos For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, 5 May 2022 Spencer Haywood, who tries and fails to quit cocaine cold turkey at Kareem’s behest. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2022 Luckily, my father quit cold turkey 20 years ago and never relapsed. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 19 Apr. 2022 Studies show that people who use counseling or the FDA products have much more success quitting than those who try to stop cold turkey. Jen Christensen, CNN, 24 Mar. 2022 See More
Adverb
You’re not supposed to quit cold turkey on that stuff. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2022 Given the obstacles against going cold turkey, many companies have sought to supplement Chinese production rather than leave the country altogether. Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2022 His last attempt in August, a cold turkey gambit without nicotine replacement therapy, triggered an excruciating maelstrom of cravings that lasted several months. New York Times, 2 Aug. 2022 First off, there’s no need to go cold turkey or follow any other kind of horrible detox program. Elijah Rawls, Men's Health, 14 June 2022 Certainly, going cold turkey would reverberate negatively on the European populace and economy, sending oil prices even higher. Paul Hockenos For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, 5 May 2022 Spencer Haywood, who tries and fails to quit cocaine cold turkey at Kareem’s behest. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2022 Luckily, my father quit cold turkey 20 years ago and never relapsed. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 19 Apr. 2022 Studies show that people who use counseling or the FDA products have much more success quitting than those who try to stop cold turkey. Jen Christensen, CNN, 24 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
1941, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
cold turkey
noun
cold tur·key -ˈtər-kē
: abrupt complete cessation of the use of an addictive drug
also : the symptoms experienced by one undergoing withdrawal from a drug
cold turkey
noun
as in clam
a cold aloof person my new boss is a cold turkey and definitely not one for chitchat Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- clam
- cold fish
- iceberg
- icicle
- stick
- wallflower
- snob
- snot
- stuffed shirt
- prig
- snoot
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sweetheart
- dear
- sweetie