cold-blooded
Lacking internal thermoregulation
Cold-blooded describes animals like reptiles and fish whose body temperature matches their environment rather than being internally regulated.
The figurative sense dominates everyday use: a cold-blooded act is calculated and merciless, done without emotional heat or passion.
Cold-blooded murder suggests premeditation rather than impulse.
A cold-blooded person remains calm and unfeeling where others would show emotion.
Lacking outward feeling
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- dispassionateFree from emotional involvement
- impassiveWithout visible emotion
- unfeelingWithout compassion or emotion
stoic · callous · heartless · indifferent · apathetic · insensitive · unsympathetic · hard-hearted
Temperature set by surroundings
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- lizardFour-legged scaled reptile
- snakeLimbless scaled reptile
- crocodileLarge semiaquatic tropical reptile
alligator · turtle · tortoise · gecko · iguana · chameleon · python · boa
Crafty and calculating
- premeditatedPlanned before acting
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- cunningSly, scheming cleverness
manipulative · strategic · merciless · pitiless · remorseless · unscrupulous · opportunistic · conniving
unemotional
Lacking outward feeling
- detachedApart or uninvolved
- dispassionateFree from emotional involvement
- impassiveWithout visible emotion
unfeeling · stoic · callous · heartless · indifferent · apathetic · insensitive · unsympathetic · hard-hearted · aloof
ectothermic
Temperature set by surroundings
crocodile · alligator · turtle · tortoise · gecko · iguana · chameleon · python · boa · viper
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- premeditatedPlanned before acting
- deliberateConsciously chosen, not accidental
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
cunning · manipulative · strategic · merciless · pitiless · remorseless · unscrupulous · opportunistic · conniving · methodical
- reptile traitsscaly, slithering, forked tongue, shedding skin, venomous
- zoologymammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects
- cold-heartedcallous, cruel, frigid, hard-hearted, heartless
- reptile keepingterrarium, terrariums, vivarium, vivariums, enclosure
- criminal traitsconvicted, guilty, accused, arrested, wanted
- thermoregulationbody temperature, core temperature, shivering, sweating, thermoregulation
cold-bloodedwarmhearted
Affectionate and sympathetic
warm · demonstrative · tenderhearted · feeling · emotional
cold-bloodedmerciful
Disposed toward forgiveness
compassionate · humane · kindhearted · sympathetic · charitable