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

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.

See Examples For:

cold-hearted

I don’t wish to be cold-hearted, but none of us are in a position to take on the responsibility ourselves.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

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

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the new rules will tackle "cold-hearted" scammers who "ruin lives in seconds."

From BBC ● May 3, 2023

But when his plan goes awry, the Grinch turns into his old, cold-hearted self, until his friend Cindy-Lou Who, reminds him that Christmas is not all about winning.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 23, 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