cold-blooded

C1 Topic:Describing People

US /ˌkoʊldˈblʌd.ɪd/ UK /ˌkəʊldˈblʌd.ɪd/ See IPA manual

Freq #12321

Meanings

1

adj
deliberately cruel and showing no pity, emotion, or remorse

Investigators described the planned attack as cold-blooded and ruthless.
2

adj
having a body temperature that varies with the environment rather than being regulated internally; ectothermic

Most reptiles are cold-blooded and depend on external heat to warm their bodies.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · deliberately cruel and... ruthless callous remorseless

2 adj · having a body temperature... ectothermicpoikilothermic

Opposites

compassionatewarm-heartedwarm-blooded

Word family

Forms cold-bloodedness

Derived forms cold-bloodedlycold-bloodedness

Related forms cold bloodectothermpoikilotherm

Etymology

Formed from cold blood + -ed. The biological sense contrasts animals whose body temperature depends largely on external conditions with warm-blooded animals; the figurative sense applies the traditional association of cold blood with emotional detachment and cruelty.

Topics

Describing People

External links

# cold-blooded

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌkoʊldˈblʌd.ɪd/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌkəʊldˈblʌd.ɪd/
**Frequency rank:** 12321

## Meanings
1. deliberately cruel and showing no pity, emotion, or remorse
2. having a body temperature that varies with the environment rather than being regulated internally; ectothermic

## Examples
- Investigators described the planned attack as cold-blooded and ruthless.
- Most reptiles are cold-blooded and depend on external heat to warm their bodies.

## Synonyms
- ruthless
- callous
- remorseless
- ectothermic

## Antonyms
- compassionate
- warm-hearted
- warm-blooded

## Derived Forms
- cold-bloodedly
- cold-bloodedness

## Related Forms
- cold blood
- ectotherm
- poikilotherm

## Etymology
Formed from cold blood + -ed. The biological sense contrasts animals whose body temperature depends largely on external conditions with warm-blooded animals; the figurative sense applies the traditional association of cold blood with emotional detachment and cruelty.

## Topics
- Describing People

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