frigid

adjective

frig·​id ˈfri-jəd How to pronounce frigid (audio)
Synonyms of frigidnext
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
: experiencing diminished or absent sexual desire or response
used especially of a woman
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
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.
The 17-pound sea turtle had convalesced at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island since being found near death in the frigid Cape Cod waters last November. Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 29 May 2026 One frigid, gray day last winter, Halverson received word from his district network that ICE agents were in Fridley and would possibly come by the high school and middle school. Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 28 May 2026 Seriously though, had amfAR been held earlier in the week, form-figure wearing fashion models would have braved fierce frigid weather on par with a November Kennebunkport, ME. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 22 May 2026 The casual-natured yet sharp staff seem genuinely happy to be working in frigid, off-grid Antarctica, and someone’s always around to fulfill a request, answer questions or engage in organic chit-chat in the main hub. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for frigid

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Frigid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frigid. Accessed 31 May. 2026.

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster