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

Again, Lopez drew inspiration from the 2000s with a frosty lavender eyeshadow framed with dramatic black doll-like lashes. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 3 June 2026

But its other frosty treats deserve attention, too. —Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 30 May 2026

Battery life is up to ten hours — that’s the same as the previous model managed, even though this one gets 20% cooler, though note that this figure is achieved with the Reon Pocket Pro Plus on its second-highest setting, not the top-most, frostiest level. —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026

The device turns virtually any liquid into a frosty drink within 20 to 30 minutes — with a couple of exceptions. —Clint Davis, PEOPLE, 14 May 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