silent treatment

NOUN

ignoring of another

Synonyms

WEAK

blackballing cold shoulder ignore someone ignoring ostracism ostracization sending to Coventry

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.

Polite formalities did not return at the toss, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha giving each other the silent treatment.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

“For a day or two, she’d give us the silent treatment, and then we’d all fall back into the form of a life trying to make ends meet,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026

‘He thinks nothing of spending $40K on a new car’: My husband gives me the silent treatment.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 9, 2025

PSG supporters kept protesting at Parc des Princes by giving their team the silent treatment.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2024

The silent treatment would be Ophie’s punishment, but for now Mama seemed more intent on getting them out of the attic than anything else.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland