cold comfort: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary, journalistic.
Quick answer
What does “cold comfort” mean?
Very limited or inadequate consolation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Very limited or inadequate consolation; something that offers little or no solace in a difficult situation.
A fact or statement that is technically true or positive but does nothing to alleviate distress or improve a bad situation. It can imply that the attempt at consolation is almost insulting in its inadequacy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The phrase is equally established in both varieties.
Connotations
Same connotations in both variants: irony, inadequacy, disappointment.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK written sources, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “cold comfort” in a Sentence
[Something] is/was cold comfort to [someone][Someone] finds/found [something] cold comfort[Something] offers/offered cold comfortVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cold comfort” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It does not comfort one; it merely provides cold comfort.
American English
- The news failed to comfort them; it was just cold comfort.
adverb
British English
- He spoke cold-comfortingly, his words offering little real hope.
American English
- The apology was delivered cold-comfortingly, without genuine remorse.
adjective
British English
- The comforting words had a cold-comfort quality about them.
American English
- She gave a cold-comfort smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The slight increase in market share was cold comfort after the company's massive quarterly loss.'
Academic
'For the displaced populations, the historical significance of the site was cold comfort.'
Everyday
'Knowing I was technically in the right is cold comfort when I'm still stuck with the bill.'
Technical
Not typically used in technical registers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cold comfort”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cold comfort”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cold comfort”
- Using it to mean 'no comfort' (it implies a tiny, unsatisfying amount, not a complete absence).
- Using it as an adjective directly before a noun (e.g., 'a cold comfort thought' – incorrect). It is a noun phrase.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is inherently negative or ironic. It evaluates the consolation as inadequate or almost insulting.
Yes, it is common and correct to use the indefinite article (e.g., 'It was a cold comfort'). It is a countable noun phrase.
The phrase dates to the 14th century. 'Cold' has long been associated with lack of emotion or kindness. It appears in Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew' and 'King John'.
They are very close synonyms. 'Cold comfort' often carries a stronger tone of irony or dismissiveness, implying the consolation is not just small but also emotionally unsatisfying or tactless.
Very limited or inadequate consolation.
Cold comfort is usually formal, literary, journalistic. in register.
Cold comfort: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊld ˈkʌm.fət/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊld ˈkʌm.fɚt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A cold comfort is better than none at all. (rare, proverbial)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone giving you a thin, frozen blanket (cold) when you are desperate for warmth and emotional support (comfort). It's technically a blanket, but it's useless and even makes you feel worse.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMFORT IS WARMTH / LACK OF COMFORT IS COLD. The phrase combines the primary metaphor (emotional warmth = kindness/solace) with its negation.
Practice
Quiz
In which situation is 'cold comfort' used CORRECTLY?