frigid

adjective

frig·​id ˈfri-jəd How to pronounce frigid (audio)
1
a
: intensely cold
frigid water
b
: lacking warmth or ardor : indifferent
had an emotionally frigid father
2
: lacking imaginative qualities : insipid
writing precise and frigid poetry
3
a
: abnormally averse to sexual intercourse
used especially of women
b
of a female : unable to achieve orgasm during sexual intercourse
frigidly adverb
frigidness noun

Examples of frigid in a Sentence

The frigid gusts of wind stung their faces. She was born into an emotionally frigid family.
Recent Examples on the Web The second half is a nearly unparalleled disaster epic as the iconic ship sinks into the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. James Grebey, TIME, 19 July 2024 The other night, my 21-year-old daughter and I stepped out of the sweltering Manhattan air into a blissfully frigid Duane Reede to buy a cold drink for the drive home to New Jersey. April Daniels Hussar, Allure, 12 July 2024 Just an unsupported statement that the graduate student was out on his own stargazing on a cloudy, frigid pre-dawn morning in an empty rural park when the murders occurred? Howard Blum, Washington Post, 26 June 2024 Many of their residents will have to brave the frigid weather without heat after power in some areas was knocked out by a weekend storm and the harsh weather hindered restoration efforts. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for frigid 

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

Word History

Etymology

Latin frigidus, from frigēre to be cold; akin to Latin frigus frost, cold, Greek rhigos

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of frigid was in 1619

Dictionary Entries Near frigid

Cite this Entry

“Frigid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frigid. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

frigid

adjective
frig·​id ˈfrij-əd How to pronounce frigid (audio)
1
: freezing cold
2
: not friendly
a frigid stare
frigidity
frij-ˈid-ət-ē
noun
frigidly
ˈfrij-əd-lē
adverb
frigidness noun

Medical Definition

frigid

adjective
frig·​id ˈfrij-əd How to pronounce frigid (audio)
1
: lacking sexual desire : abnormally averse to sexual intercourse
used especially of women
2
of a female : unable to achieve orgasm during sexual intercourse

More from Merriam-Webster on frigid

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