icier; iciest
1
a
: covered with, abounding in, or consisting of ice
b
: intensely cold
2
: characterized by coldness : frigid
an icy stare
also : steely
icy nerves
icily adverb
iciness noun

Examples of icy in a Sentence

an icy drink that was especially refreshing on that hot afternoon she wondered why the salesclerk at the boutique had given her an icy glare
Recent Examples on the Web Since purple and yellow neutralize each other, Zanoni says purple shampoos are an effective way to get rid of brassy hair color and work particularly well on lighter blondes who want cooler, icier tones in their locks. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 18 Jan. 2024 Plus, the rugged outsole helps keep kids stable on icier terrains. Karthika Gupta, Parents, 11 Jan. 2024 Living in extremely icy Arctic ocean environments, they are known for their long lifespans, which are often associated with slow metabolism and maturation. Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2023 The reception by the press at the conference was reportedly icy. WIRED, 19 Sep. 2023 Gaffigan plays a dual role: Cameron Edwin, a good-hearted educational TV host whose career and family life have been slowly deteriorating for years; and Kent Armstrong, a more successful but much icier man, who moves across the street from Cam. Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2023 But soon, icier colors and stripe patterns seep into their wardrobe as Louis begins to feel like an animal caged by his affection for his creator, lover and abuser. Hunter Ingram, Variety, 9 June 2023 Although these natural satellites should have formed from the same feedstock of material and thus have similar compositions, density measurements suggest that Callisto and Ganymede are far icier than Europa, while Io has no ice at all. Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2023 According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), polar vortexes on Earth typically only pose a threat to us when temperatures get near or below freezing, or when a polar vortex expands and pushes icy Arctic air into climates that don’t usually get freezing weather. Daisy Hernandez, Popular Mechanics, 10 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'icy.' 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 icy was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near icy

Cite this Entry

“Icy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/icy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

icy

adjective
icier; iciest
1
a
: covered with, full of, or consisting of ice
b
: very cold
icy weather
2
icily adverb
iciness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on icy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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