To fail as an intended source of solace. The news that I got a meager raise is cold comfort after not getting that big promotion.The fact that it's "stage one" is cold comfort to me—it's still cancer!
if something someone tells you to make you feel better about a bad situation is cold comfort, it does not make you feel better (usually + to ) The doctor said only his legs are paralysed, not his whole body, but I think that will be cold comfort to him.