silent treatment
noun
: an act of completely ignoring a person or thing by resort to silence especially as a means of expressing contempt or disapproval
Examples of silent treatment in a Sentence
ever since our run-in at the party she's been giving me the silent treatment
Recent Examples on the Web
Modern nineteenth-century prisons in various parts of the world, including in the British empire, began to model their own prisons off of the Eastern State Penitentiary, instituting separate and silent treatments that suppressed language.
—
Amir Hussain
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
In a 2015 study, researchers Esther Liu and Michael Roloff suggested that stonewalling or silent treatment could be a response to feeling emotionally drained or burnt out from overthinking about a conflict.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
The dynamic may be marked by frequent ruptures, including arguments, silent treatment or emotional withdrawal, followed by sudden closeness, reconciliation or affection.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
This silent treatment was later clarified to be part of McIlroy’s strategy to eliminate distractions.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for silent treatment
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Amir Hussain
june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025
In a 2015 study, researchers Esther Liu and Michael Roloff suggested that stonewalling or silent treatment could be a response to feeling emotionally drained or burnt out from overthinking about a conflict.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
The dynamic may be marked by frequent ruptures, including arguments, silent treatment or emotional withdrawal, followed by sudden closeness, reconciliation or affection.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
This silent treatment was later clarified to be part of McIlroy’s strategy to eliminate distractions.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for silent treatment
Cite this Entry
“Silent treatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silent%20treatment. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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