Word
coldly
Phoneticscold·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkoʊɫdɫi/
UK/kˈəʊldli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a way that is not warm or friendly. You use this to describe someone who is being very serious, unfriendly, or not showing any emotion.
adv. in a manner that is emotionally detached, unfeeling, or lacking in warmth. Often describes a calculated or pragmatic approach to a situation.
Examples
“He looked at her coldly and walked away.”
“The manager coldly dismissed the employee's request for a raise, citing company policy and budget constraints.”
“The diplomat coldly assessed the situation, ignoring the emotional appeals of the protestors and focusing solely on the strategic implications for the nation's security.”
Examples
simple
“He looked at her coldly and walked away.”
contextual
“The manager coldly dismissed the employee's request for a raise, citing company policy and budget constraints.”
complex
“The diplomat coldly assessed the situation, ignoring the emotional appeals of the protestors and focusing solely on the strategic implications for the nation's security.”
Etymology
From Middle English coldliche, caldeliche, perhaps borrowed from Old Norse kaldliga (“coldly”); equivalent to cold + -ly. Displaced Middle English colde (“coldly”), from Old English cealde (“coldly”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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