cool 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkül How to pronounce cool (audio)
Definition of coolnext
1
as in distant
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others the locals were cool towards outsiders the schoolmaster's cool manner did not encourage chitchat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in calm
free from emotional or mental agitation in a crisis keep a cool head, even if no one else is

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cold
having a low or subnormal temperature a cool basement that would be perfect for storing wine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling directed a cool glance at the student who was sneaking into class late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in stylish
slang being in the latest or current fashion had a cool new hairstyle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in downtown
slang keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment a Greek island that's the current favorite of the cool crowd

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in awesome
slang of the very best kind a really cool garage band that's starting to get some attention from the music industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cool

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to chill
to cause to lose heat cool your drinks in the icy mountain stream

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to hush
to become still and orderly after the recess, tempers had cooled, and we could have a civil, rational discussion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cool

3 of 3

noun

1
as in detachment
the absence of emotional involvement the judge's customary cool stood her in good stead during the sensational trial

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fashionableness
the quality or state of being fashionable a designer who was the arbiter of cool

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in composure
evenness of emotions or temper despite the flood of insults, the fledgling stand-up comic never lost his cool

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Try This Instead Try This Instead

For
Try This
a cool head
a rational head
a clear head
a fair-minded head
a steady head
a peaceful head
a cool breeze
a refreshing breeze
a crisp breeze
a fresh breeze
a brisk breeze
a lovely breeze
a cool drink
a chilled drink
an iced drink
an icy drink
a fresh-tasting drink
a frosty drink
a cool place
a popular place
a groovy place
an awesome place
a neat place
an interesting place
cool colors
pretty colors
unique colors
sick colors
funky colors
stylish colors

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cool different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of cool are collected, composed, imperturbable, nonchalant, and unruffled. While all these words mean "free from agitation or excitement," cool may imply calmness, deliberateness, or dispassionateness.

kept a cool head

Where would collected be a reasonable alternative to cool?

The words collected and cool can be used in similar contexts, but collected implies a concentration of mind that eliminates distractions especially in moments of crisis.

the nurse stayed calm and collected

When is composed a more appropriate choice than cool?

While in some cases nearly identical to cool, composed implies freedom from agitation as a result of self-discipline or a sedate disposition.

the composed pianist gave a flawless concert

When can imperturbable be used instead of cool?

Although the words imperturbable and cool have much in common, imperturbable implies coolness or assurance even under severe provocation.

the speaker remained imperturbable despite the heckling

When is it sensible to use nonchalant instead of cool?

The meanings of nonchalant and cool largely overlap; however, nonchalant stresses an easy coolness of manner or casualness that suggests indifference or unconcern.

a nonchalant driver

When might unruffled be a better fit than cool?

In some situations, the words unruffled and cool are roughly equivalent. However, unruffled suggests apparent serenity and poise in the face of setbacks or in the midst of excitement.

harried but unruffled

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 cool
Adjective
Levi’s never lose their cool factor, so these are a safe investment. — Claudia Fisher, Parents, 20 Mar. 2025 Forty-seven tracks into Rush 50 — a new career-spanning anthology presenting 50 songs across nearly five hours — a cool sonic Easter egg arrives. — Hank Shteamer, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
That isn't the case with white dwarfs, which form when stars like the sun run out of fuel for nuclear fusion, shedding their outer layers as their cores collapse and forming a cooling stellar ember. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Mar. 2025 Data centers may need a lot of it, too, for cooling purposes. — Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
In that environment, even a mild-mannered Messi could lose his cool and react uncharacteristically. — Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 There’s a unique mix of style, ease, generosity, and an effortless sense of cool. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cool
  1. distant
  2. calm
  3. cold
  4. icy
  5. stylish
  6. downtown
  7. awesome
  8. chill
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
  • Spend your days hiking to Tahquitz Falls or strolling the calm trails within the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.
    — Danielle Pointdujour, Essence, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The calm, shallow waters of Holbox provide the ideal setting for this deeply relaxing, transformative activity.
    — Rana Good, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of calm
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
  • Champions League-level spending catches up with reality A significant problem at Old Trafford has been a simple one: a lack of cold, hard cash.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of cold
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
  • Beyond its stylish design and expert craftsmanship, the home is built for comfort.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The star’s casual looks always find the right balance between stylish and functional.
    — Aemilia Madden, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of stylish
Adjective
  • Brian Hopkins, 2nd, whose ward includes Streeterville, responded by calling (not for the first time) for moving the existing 10 p.m. curfew for minors who are downtown without an accompanying adult back to 8 p.m.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
  • This spurred collectors to acquire some organs from movie theaters that were being closed or sold as people shifted from watching movies downtown to watching TV at home in the suburbs.
    — Heather Kathryn Ross, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of downtown
Adjective
  • Lioness season two, Taylor’s awesome in the episodes.
    — Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Now, Homan’s administration wants to use the awesome powers of the federal law enforcement apparatus to intimidate and silence those who disagree with their policy agenda.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of awesome
Verb
  • This bill will chill legitimate political speech while exposing citizens to health risks as well as risks of doxxing, harassment and violence.
    — Nikki Morse, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Policy uncertainty from the federal government would likely chill investor willingness to provide capital for American companies to continue their innovative work.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of chill

Phrases Containing cool

Browse Nearby Words

cool
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cool. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on cool

Nglish: Translation of cool for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All