cold 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkōld How to pronounce cold (audio)
Definition of coldnext
1
as in freezing
having a low or subnormal temperature the cold climate of the Yukon an unusually cold spring that was followed by a sweltering summer

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2
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling the prisoners got only a cold stare when they tried to befriend the guard

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3
as in distant
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others received a cold reception from the hostess

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4
as in unconscious
having lost consciousness the boxer was out cold for a few minutes

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5
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer the couple practiced a cold civility with each other, but they hadn't had a heart-to-heart talk in years

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6
as in fallen
no longer living paramedics tried to revive him, but he was already cold

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cold

2 of 3

noun

as in freeze
a weather condition marked by low temperatures the cold will stay with us for another day, then temperatures should rise

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cold

3 of 3

adverb

as in plain

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For
Try This
cold weather
low-temperature weather
chilly weather
frigid weather
wintry weather
cold climates
frigid climates
low-temperature climates
wintry climates
harsh climates
frozen climates
cold wind
chilly wind
frigid wind
nippy wind
harsh wind
cold beer
frosty beer
chilled beer
icy beer
fresh beer

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cold
Adjective
The formerly friendly hound transformed into one of cold calculation that left a trail of bodies in its wake. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025 While colder temperatures are technically better for sleeping, according to experts, winter in New York City has been chillier than usual this winter. — Christine Yu, Outside Online, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
In the waning days of winter, a particular species of fish ill-suited for the Minnesota cold — the gizzard shad — is prone toward going belly-up on the Mississippi in the southern part of the state. — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2025 These thermocouples allow RTGs to produce electricity from the difference in temperature created by the heat of plutonium-238 decay and the frigid cold of space. — Benjamin Roulston, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2025
Adverb
Initial leads running cold over the weekend with over 200 officers working the case. — Adrienne Vogt, CNN, 3 May 2023 First detected in the stream after the stream mouth emerged from glacial ice were larvae of chironomids, cold-loving midges. — Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2023 See All Example Sentences for cold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold
  1. freezing
  2. icy
  3. distant
  4. unconscious
  5. dark
  6. freeze
  7. plain
  8. chilly
Adjective
  • The winds, snow, and freezing temperatures — to say nothing of the deadly airborne virus the Earthlings’ immune system can’t handle pre-vaccine — are inhospitable at first.
    — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The roots of potted plants are not well insulated and need protection against freezing temperatures.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of freezing
Adjective
  • Her makeup, too, was equally icy, with a metallic silvery-white shadow brushed under her brow as a highlight and dramatic black eyeliner winged all the way out to the outer corner of her brows, plus a pair of light blue-gray contacts enhanced by majorly fluttery, lush lashes.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 Dec. 2024
  • White cautioned those traveling north of Indianapolis this weekend, however, should be mindful of potentially snowier, icier road conditions.
    — Christopher Cann, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Nov. 2024
Definition of icy
Adjective
  • And while observatories in space and on the ground can give some clues about exoplanets, stars themselves are crucial to understanding these distant worlds.
    — Elizabeth Landau, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025
  • And someday, our current limitations will also become remnants of distant tournament history.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of distant
Adjective
  • The victim was unconscious and had bruises on his face and body when the couple dropped him at Downstate Medical Center in East Flatbush Saturday.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
  • According to local newspaper The Korea Times, Wheesung was discovered unconscious in his apartment in Seoul’s northern Gwangjin-gu district at 6:29 p.m.
    — Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of unconscious
Adjective
  • Boat Rocker’s slate currently comprises the likes of 1980s throwback dark comedy Video Nasty, drama series Mix Tape and Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber’s Sundance 2024 doc War Game.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025
  • The outage was random and intermittent, lasting for 45 minutes at a time, then resuming only to go dark again for another 45 minutes.
    — John Brandon, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of dark
Noun
  • The country is one of only a handful continuing to receive U.S. military aid amid the 90-day freeze on foreign assistance ordered by President Donald Trump.
    — William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Amid the aid freeze, FEWS NET has no funding to pay staff in Washington or those working on the ground.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of freeze
Adverb
  • The video, which has been viewed 10 million times, showed only Duterte speaking, while wearing a plain white shirt.
    — Reuters, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Coquette but not over-the-top, the beige-striped decorative bows lining the top hem give a whimsical detail to a plain white shower curtain.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of plain
Adjective
  • Pascal Plante’s chilly Quebecois techno-thriller isn’t about content moderation per se, but its descent-into-hell structure is — intentionally or not — mimicked here.
    — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The hotel’s in-house Palace Sports & Rentals features a ski room with heated lockers, a convenient way to start and end a chilly day.
    — Alexandra Cheney, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of chilly

Phrases Containing cold

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col
cold
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Cite this Entry

“Cold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cold

Nglish: Translation of cold for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cold

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