silent treatment
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of silent treatment
First recorded in 1945–50
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.
He’s used to giving me the silent treatment whenever there is conflict and he’s improved, but there is still a huge divide between what we have and what I, and most people, think is healthy.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2025
He did not want to speak after Saturday's round, but he did and in so doing broke his silent treatment of the media.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2025
PSG supporters kept protesting at Parc des Princes by giving their team the silent treatment.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 28, 2024
As his teammates continued to give him the silent treatment, Ohtani raised his arms and waved them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2024
He reached over and tried to adjust another setting, but his silent treatment didn’t work very well.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
