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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 The step-by-step approach matters because going cold turkey rarely sticks. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026 The food menu has salads and breakfast sandwiches, paninis and burritos ($11-$15), as well as a lone cold turkey club. John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 May 2026 For advertisers, going cold turkey on clicks means shifting strategy from traffic quantity to conversion quality. Ivan Doruda, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2026 Why not go cold turkey on occasion and report economic statistics with no shading? Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cold turkey
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold turkey
Noun
  • Layer potatoes, corn, sausage, cherry tomatoes, peppadew peppers and clams.
    Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Artful pizzas go beyond margherita with varieties like a clam pie with funky lemons, confit shallots, and raclette mornay sauce, or a chilaquiles slice with chorizo.
    Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 June 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
  • The waterproof vinyl material can handle bathroom conditions, with easy peel-and-stick installation.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
  • Place a stick or two of chalk in a drawer or toolbox to maximize its effectiveness and keep your items free from rust damage.
    Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • But eccentricity is only the visible tip of the vast iceberg of Vibeke’s mental health issues, and soon Karl and Rikke are conferring in low whispers about whether, and when, to slip some ground-up sleeping pills into her drink.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 7 July 2026
  • From May through September, long daylight hours also leave more time for kayaking among icebergs, exploring lava fields, horseback riding, geothermal pools, farm stops and wildlife sightings, from puffins to Icelandic horses.
    Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 1 July 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 10 Jul. 2026.

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