Definitions

cold-blooded

[kohld-bluhd-id] / ˈkoʊldˈblʌd ɪd /

ADJECTIVE

cruel, heartless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barbarous brutal callous hardened inhuman merciless ruthless

WEAK

cold dispassionate hard-boiled hard-hearted imperturbable matter-of-fact obdurate pitiless relentless savage steely stony-hearted uncompassionate unemotional unfeeling unmoved

Antonyms

STRONGEST

compassionate feeling gentle giving kind nice sympathetic

WEAK

demonstrative friendly merciful warm-blooded

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Insects are cold-blooded, so they are at the mercy of external temperatures," said Northwestern's Marco Gallio, who led the study.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

Put a cold-blooded spin on it and “Sinners” is now the biggest loser in Oscars history, ceding 12 of its 16 record-breaking nominations to other films.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Stalin “possessed both an uncontrollable temper and extraordinary willpower. He was capable of bewildering recklessness and cold-blooded displays of control.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

While many see Yamagami as a cold-blooded murderer, some sympathise with his troubled upbringing.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

This cold-blooded walk to his own destruction would require a different kind of bravery.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

Vocabulary lists containing cold-blooded

Idioms and Expressions, List 3

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 1

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Long Way Down

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!