cold shoulder
noun
: intentionally cold or unsympathetic treatment
got the cold shoulder from an old friend
cold-shoulder transitive verb
Synonyms
- brush-off
- rebuff
- repulse
- silent treatment
- snub
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder
Recent Examples on the Web The Biden administration has offered to meet with North Korea at any time, though Pyongyang has given Washington the cold shoulder. 
Dasl Yoon, WSJ, 28 Aug. 2022 The exes' meetup in the park immediately turns tense as Matt arrives with his hands in his pockets and Brittany gives him the cold shoulder. Amanda Taylor, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2022 Last month, The New York Times and The Washington Post published stories indicating that the Murdochs were quietly giving Trump the cold shoulder by emphasizing him less in coverage on Fox. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 The cold shoulder was inappropriate, Scholz said during an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF. Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 15 June 2022 During Thursday's episode, Richard continued to give Meredith the cold shoulder. Christina Dugan Ramirez, PEOPLE.com, 5 May 2022 As painful as your colleague’s cold shoulder may be, please remember that a true friend would not treat you this way. Roxane Gay, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2022 Rather than giving anyone the cold shoulder, consider extending a hand in friendship. Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2022 In the last two games, Quantrill and Zach Plesac, who have received the cold shoulder from the offense through most of the first seven weeks of the season, received more support than usual. Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 7 June 2022 See More
Dasl Yoon, WSJ, 28 Aug. 2022 The exes' meetup in the park immediately turns tense as Matt arrives with his hands in his pockets and Brittany gives him the cold shoulder. Amanda Taylor, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2022 Last month, The New York Times and The Washington Post published stories indicating that the Murdochs were quietly giving Trump the cold shoulder by emphasizing him less in coverage on Fox. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 The cold shoulder was inappropriate, Scholz said during an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF. Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 15 June 2022 During Thursday's episode, Richard continued to give Meredith the cold shoulder. Christina Dugan Ramirez, PEOPLE.com, 5 May 2022 As painful as your colleague’s cold shoulder may be, please remember that a true friend would not treat you this way. Roxane Gay, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2022 Rather than giving anyone the cold shoulder, consider extending a hand in friendship. Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2022 In the last two games, Quantrill and Zach Plesac, who have received the cold shoulder from the offense through most of the first seven weeks of the season, received more support than usual. Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 7 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1816, in the meaning defined above
cold-shoulder 1 of 2
verb
as in to snub
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
- snub
- isolate
- stiff
- reject
- slight
- cut
- stiff-arm
- repulse
- high-hat
- disdain
- rebuff
- neglect
- ostracize
- repel
- spurn
- forget
- scorn
- overlook
- disregard
- pass over
- overpass
- brush (aside or off)
- shrug off
cold shoulder
2 of 2noun
as in silent treatment
treatment that is deliberately unfriendly at the party the two former friends consciously gave each other the cold shoulder Synonyms & Similar Words
- silent treatment
- dismissal
- rebuff
- snub
- repulse
- rejection
- brush-off
- banishment
- kiss-off
- ostracism
- blackball
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- open arms
- acceptance
- welcome
- embrace
- glad hand
- welcome mat