frosty

1 of 2

adjective

ˈfrȯ-stē 

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 hair …

—Nan Robertson

3

: marked by coolness or extreme reserve in manner

… his smile was distinctly frosty.

—Erle Stanley Gardner

frostily

ˈfrȯ-stə-lē 

adverb

frostiness

ˈfrȯ-stē-nəs 

noun

frostiness

2 of 2

noun

frost·​i·​ness -tēnə̇s 

-tin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being frosty or frigid

often criticized for his excessive frostiness toward modern art

—Newsweek

Synonyms of frosty

Adjective

• icy
• cold
• frigid
• chilly
• freezing
• chill
• cool

Examples of frosty in a Sentence

Adjective

We received a frosty welcome.

a frosty autumn that was a sign of the brutal winter that followed

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In the first photo, the SKIMS founder is seen wearing a pink tube top paired with a choker necklace and a frosty lip shade, all signature trends of the early aughts. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

In fall, frosty whitecaps splash along the Lake Erie shore, sending visitors scuttling inland just in time for leaf peeping and wine tasting. — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 12 Sep. 2026

The reception might be a tad frostier in six weeks when Tkachuk’s Florida Panthers — no, the Tkachuks’ Florida Panthers — roll into Ottawa for an Atlantic Division showdown at Canadian Tire Center. — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

While relations with Moscow remain frosty for much of the world, Russian filmmakers are gradually coming in from the cold. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

1629, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

frosty

adjective

ˈfrȯ-stē 

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

-stə-lē 

adverb

frostiness

-stē-nəs 

noun