cold-blooded

cold-blooded — adjective

1. describing animals and other creatures whose internal warmth matches the world a

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing animals and other creatures whose internal warmth matches the world around them, rather than being generated from inside — applies to reptiles, fish, amphibians, and insects

例句

Since snakes are cold-blooded, they need sunlight to warm up before they can hunt.

topic: animal biology; predict + result clause

The biology teacher told the class that all reptiles are cold-blooded creatures.

attributive use: cold-blooded + creature

同義詞
  • ectothermic

    the formal scientific term; very rare in everyday speech

  • poikilothermic

    a highly technical synonym used mainly in zoology textbooks

反義詞
  • warm-blooded

    the direct opposite; used for mammals and birds that maintain a steady internal body temperature

文法句型

cold-blooded + noun (animal type)

be + cold-blooded

用法筆記

This is a neutral scientific term for animals. Using 'cold-blooded' to describe a person who feels cold is not standard English and may be misunderstood as an insult.

常見錯誤

❌My cat is cold-blooded so she sleeps in the sun.
✅My cat loves sleeping in the sun like many animals, but cats are actually warm-blooded.
💡The biological sense applies only to reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects; mammals are warm-blooded.

2. done with complete cruelty and without any feeling of guilt or pity — for exampl

2.形容詞B2
釋義

done with complete cruelty and without any feeling of guilt or pity — for example, a planned murder of an innocent person, or a heartless decision that causes great suffering

例句

The killer was found guilty of a cold-blooded murder that shocked the whole neighbourhood.

attributive: cold-blooded + murder

The general ordered a cold-blooded attack on unarmed villagers during the war.

collocation: cold-blooded attack

同義詞
  • ruthless

    similar intensity but focuses on achieving a goal without caring who gets hurt; less tied to violent crime

  • merciless

    emphasises the refusal to show any mercy to someone who is helpless

  • heartless

    slightly less formal; describes a person who lacks kindness or sympathy

  • callous

    focuses on emotional indifference rather than active cruelty

反義詞
  • compassionate

    showing deep concern for others' suffering

  • kind

    a general positive opposite at a gentler intensity

  • merciful

    showing forgiveness or leniency, the direct opposite of merciless

文法句型

cold-blooded + noun (murder / killer / attack / decision)

be + cold-blooded (of a person)

用法筆記

This figurative sense is much stronger than words like 'unkind' or 'mean.' It implies a chilling absence of normal human emotion and is most often used for violent crimes or ruthless business decisions. The biological and figurative senses share no overlap in usage — context (human vs. animal) tells the reader which meaning is intended.

常見錯誤

❌She was cold-blooded when she forgot my birthday.
✅She was thoughtless when she forgot my birthday.
💡'Cold-blooded' is too strong for minor offences; it suggests deliberate cruelty, not carelessness.