frostier; frostiest
1
a
: attended with or producing frost : freezing
b
: briskly cold : chilly
2
: covered or appearing as if covered with frost : hoary
a man of 65, with frosty eyebrows and hairNan Robertson
3
: marked by coolness or extreme reserve in manner
his smile was distinctly frostyErle Stanley Gardner
frostily adverb
frostiness noun

Examples of frosty in a Sentence

We received a frosty welcome. a frosty autumn that was a sign of the brutal winter that followed
Recent Examples on the Web The frosty halo on top is frozen coconut milk and lime juice. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 But now, a new and far more frosty climate appears to be setting in around Kinmen. Eric Cheung, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 Biden and Musk have had a frosty relationship driven by differing views on labor unions and more. David Ingram, NBC News, 21 Feb. 2024 The runners arrive just after 8 o’clock on a frosty Saturday morning. Isa Meyers, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Feb. 2024 Other than a sluggish housing market, Hong Kong is also grappling with a record exodus of talent and a battered stock market, both of which could worsen as relations between Beijing and Washington become frostier. Laura He, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 True to form, the nails are a sharp stiletto style, covered in a pearly, luminescent nude-pink polish with a shimmery, frosty finish. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Feb. 2024 What to Pack for a Winter Camping Trip Mummy Sleeping Bag To keep warm on frosty nights, consider a mummy-style sleeping bag — they’re designed to retain body heat with layers of insulation and a hood that keeps your head warm. Adrienne Jordan, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2024 After dusk on a frosty evening at the Central Park Zoo, someone shredded the mesh on an enclosure that was home to a Eurasian eagle-owl named Flaco. Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frosty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of frosty was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near frosty

Cite this Entry

“Frosty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frosty. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

frosty

adjective
frostier; frostiest
1
: cold enough to produce frost
a frosty night
2
: covered or appearing to be covered with frost
a frosty glass
3
: cool in manner
frostily adverb
frostiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on frosty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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