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Glite Dictionary
cold-blooded decision

cold-blooded decision

7.4
A decision made without feeling or pity that harms people
  • noun
  • /koʊldˈblʌdɪd dɪˈsɪʒən/
translation icon : decisión fría
  • The CEO's cold-blooded decision to lay off half the staff shocked everyone.

Examples

  • She faced criticism for her cold-blooded decision to end the partnership so abruptly.

  • The CEO made a cold-blooded decision to lay off hundreds of employees.

  • It was a cold-blooded decision to cancel the program without warning.

  • Her cold-blooded decision shocked everyone in the room.

  • She faced criticism for her cold-blooded decision to end the partnership so abruptly.

  • The CEO made a cold-blooded decision to lay off hundreds of employees with no explanation.

  • It was a cold-blooded decision to cancel the program without warning and without any consideration for the impact.

Synonyms

in cold blood
vscold-blooded decision
50 7.1

Calmly and without pity when doing something violent

is about a deliberate choice made without pity rather than the violent action
remorseless
vscold-blooded decision
6 7.5

Not feeling sorry and continuing without stopping when hurting others

is a single choice made without feeling or pity, often with ruthless intent

Antonyms

compassionate
151 3.7

Feeling concern and care for people who suffer

empathetic
30 4.4

To understand and share other people's feelings

How Ruthless

ruthlessness
9 7.3
merciless
33 5.3
cold-blooded decision
7.4
decision
569 1.0
lenience
1 6.0

Surface Forms

cold-blooded decision singular
cold-blooded decisions plural

Morphology

cold-blooded + decision

The noun phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: if a learner knows 'cold-blooded' as 'showing callous indifference' and 'decision' as a choice, they can directly infer a 'decision made without emotion or pity.' This is a common, compositional pattern (adjective modifying a noun) with clear cross-linguistic parallels, so it should be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Cold-blooded decision comes from the image of cold blooded animals like snakes and lizards, which seem calm and do not show feelings. So calling a choice 'cold-blooded' means it was made 'without emotion' or pity and is seen as very cruel.