cold turkey

Definition of cold turkeynext
as in clam
a cold aloof person my new boss is a cold turkey and definitely not one for chitchat

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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 turkey In a Journal Sentinel interview, one parent raised concerns that the clinics are abandoning ongoing treatments, such as hormone replacement therapy, leaving children to go cold turkey after years of taking either estrogen or testosterone. Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 12 Jan. 2026 At first, the idea of going cold turkey is jarring and scary. Lauren Decarlo, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Jan. 2026 Going cold turkey is, often, an onerous way of quitting something completely and suddenly. Natalie Escobar, NPR, 26 Nov. 2025 Don’t quit everything you are involved with cold turkey. Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for cold turkey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold turkey
Noun
  • Your favorite wine snob will be happy as a clam.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Banded clam shells, Bulgarian split squats, and golbet squats are a few exercises that can strengthen your knees and hips.
    Jakob Roze, Health, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That impulse extends to dealing with occasional rude customers at her day gig, where the coworkers are nice but the boss, family-business heir Maxwell Sterling (Peter Serafinowicz), is one nasty cold fish.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
  • Lancelot, still the Round Table’s greatest hero, is a bit of a cold fish with an unexpected role to play as the saga winds to its close.
    Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
Noun
  • Extra perks include a Chanel counter in the ladies powder room with a makeup artist and seamstress on hand for a helping spritz ‘n’ stitch, while those chasing Derby glory stick close to the dedicated betting advisor for the inside track on the top trainers and horses to wager on.
    Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Kerfoot floated a perfect saucer pass over the defender’s stick, and Carcone ripped a one-timer into the top of the net to give Utah a 4-3 lead with just over seven minutes to play.
    Jesse Granger, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Tip of the iceberg, but enough for now.
    New York Times, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
  • That’s what was being asked — for days — after the White Star Line’s famous steamship Titanic hit an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic Ocean.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cold turkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20turkey. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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