cold-blooded
adjective
cold-blood·ed
ˈkōl(d)-ˈblə-dəd 
1
a
: done or acting without consideration, compunction, or clemency
cold-blooded murder
b
: matter-of-fact, emotionless
a cold-blooded assessment
2
: having cold blood
specifically
: having a body temperature not internally regulated but approximating that of the environment
3
or coldblood
: of mixed or inferior breeding
4
: noticeably sensitive to cold
cold-bloodedly
adverb
cold-bloodedness
noun
Synonyms
- affectless
- callous
- case-hardened
- compassionless
- desensitized
- hard
- hard-boiled
- hard-hearted
- heartless
- indurate
- inhuman
- inhumane
- insensate
- insensitive
- ironhearted
- merciless
- obdurate
- pachydermatous
- pitiless
- remorseless
- ruthless
- slash-and-burn
- soulless
- stony
- stoney
- stonyhearted
- take-no-prisoners
- thick-skinned
- uncharitable
- unfeeling
- unmerciful
- unsparing
- unsympathetic
Examples of cold-blooded in a Sentence
a cold-blooded criminal who never once showed an ounce of mercy to his victims
the cold-blooded selfishness shown by the miser when confronted by people in need
a cold-blooded assessment of the situation showed that the company needed either to lay off workers or go bankrupt
he may not be as fancy as the other horses they own, but that cold-blooded gelding is safe and gentle
Recent Examples on the Web
No psychological fallout for Tyson after his cold-blooded ax murder of a helpless dude in the last episode.
—
Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
The legislation would amend the Animal Welfare Act to ensure that the existing standards set under federal law for the humane care, treatment, and exhibition of some warm-blooded animals are extended to cover additional warm blooded and cold-blooded animals.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2024
However, back in the ‘80s, most viewed the brothers as cold-blooded killers who gunned down their parents for inheritance money and spending sprees.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Banks is accused of masterminding a cold-blooded murder.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cold-blooded 
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.
Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
The legislation would amend the Animal Welfare Act to ensure that the existing standards set under federal law for the humane care, treatment, and exhibition of some warm-blooded animals are extended to cover additional warm blooded and cold-blooded animals.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2024
However, back in the ‘80s, most viewed the brothers as cold-blooded killers who gunned down their parents for inheritance money and spending sprees.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Banks is accused of masterminding a cold-blooded murder.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cold-blooded
Dictionary Entries Near cold-blooded
Cite this Entry
“Cold-blooded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold-blooded. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
cold-blooded
adjective
cold-blood·ed
ˈkōl(d)-ˈbləd-əd
: having a body temperature not internally regulated but approximating that of the environment : poikilothermic
cold-blooded amphibians and reptiles
cold-bloodedness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share