Synonyms

cold-hearted

American

[kohld-hahr-tid] / ˈkoʊldˈhɑr tɪd /

adjective

lacking sympathy or feeling; indifferent; unkind.

cold-hearted British

adjective

lacking in feeling or warmth; unkind

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

cold-heartedly adverb
cold-heartedness noun
coldheartedly adjective

Etymology

Origin of cold-hearted

First recorded in 1600–10

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.

Time and time again on “Parks and Recreation,” the intrepid and plucky Leslie cut through legislative red tape and won over her enemies, and the ones she couldn’t persuade always looked like cold-hearted fools.

From Salon • Jan. 16, 2026

Meanwhile, comedian Alan Carr continues his transformation from giggly liability to cold-hearted killer.

From BBC • Oct. 16, 2025

I am not cold-hearted enough to want any of these characters to depart mid-crisis or accept less than a happy life.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2025

“She is not the cold-hearted person the government and media have made her out to be,” the lawyer wrote.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 27, 2023

Unfortunately, a lot of adults are too blind or cold-hearted to see our pain.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023