COLD-EYED Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

cold-eyed

adjective

ˈkōld-ˈīd

Definition of cold-eyed

as in detached

having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others the attendant's cold-eyed stare discouraged any thoughts about having a conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in icy

lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling under the cold-eyed gaze of the director, I auditioned for the part

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-eyed Played by a Colman Domingo who is done up to look the most wax figurine of them all in a shellacking of makeup, prosthetics, and colored contacts, Joe is always either giving an avaricious open-mouthed leer or a cold-eyed glare. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026 Yet, however eager the demonstrations of Denmark’s contribution and NATO’s collective goodwill may be, a more cold-eyed rationale may lie beneath their surface. — Lisa Abend, Time, 18 Jan. 2026 The patriarch would like the ladies and Coleman to join him forthwith in Mexico; the letter’s bearer – a cold-eyed brute named Amos Turlow – will serve as guide. — Erin Douglass, Christian Science Monitor, 26 Nov. 2025 Acknowledging this is cold-eyed realism; humiliating and undercutting an ally, perhaps with worse to come in the form of a sweetheart deal for Moscow, is not. — The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cold-eyed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold-eyed

Adjective

Gudmannsson, who speaks with a detached solemnity, isn’t quite sure what to make of it.

— HubSpot, HubSpot, 1 Oct. 2026
On a map, Newfoundland is a vast, asymmetrical island, cloven by bays and inlets, semi-detached to appendages of land deformed by ancient glaciers scraping over it, leaving glacial striations, grooves and gouges on its granite face.

— Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of detached

Adjective

Technology is at the heart of facials, especially, from a skin analysis machine and facial sculpting wand to a cryotherapy mask that was positively icy—but also awesome—at -4 degrees Fahrenheit.

— Kathryn Romeyn, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
The situation—his icy glare, the perfect framing—was a bit of stagecraft amid chaos.

— Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of icy

Adjective

The lonely runner conjecture predicts that, at some point, a runner will be maximally distant from all the other runners—the saddest, loneliest phase of the race.

— Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
As a child, Henrik Andersen would look out of his window in Jutland, Denmark’s windswept western peninsula, and watch the distant wind turbines turn.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of distant

Adjective

The hotel initially had an intimate oyster bar off its lobby, but that space is now a cool special events venue.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Expect to feel the winds shifting in Northern California Friday, and Saturday for Southern California, as cooler air finally sweeps in.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of cool

Adjective

On a frigid but bright December morning, David Ellison, his top legal chief Makan Delrahim and coterie of executives took over a subterranean space in the New York City office of investment bank UBS.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
The infamous flying-kick-head-butt challenge on Cobi Jones during the 2002 World Cup round of 16 was followed by a kung-fu-like kick on Tim Howard in the frigid Columbus air in World Cup qualifying in 2009.

— Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of frigid

Adjective

The 100% cotton waffle blanket is the perfect end-of-the-bed layer when the nights get chillier.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Chihuahua, Mexico Spring 1983 Filming out in the Chihuahuan Desert is actually chilly in the morning, but when the sun comes up, the heat is unreal.

— Kyle Maclachlan, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of chilly

Adjective

Sand-like granules collecting in gutters, curling or missing shingles, brittle or cracking shingles, sagging sections and indoor leaks or ceiling stains are the standard indicators that a roof is failing.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Studying an intact oarfish is remarkably difficult because their bodies typically disintegrate into brittle segments upon death.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of brittle

Browse Nearby Words

cold creams

cold-eyed

cold feet

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“Cold-eyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold-eyed. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cold-eyed

adjective

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