arctic

adjective

ˈärk-tik How to pronounce arctic (audio)
Definition of arcticnext
1
as in icy
having a low or subnormal temperature the arctic air of deep winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frigid
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling received the usual arctic reception from her in-laws at Thanksgiving

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of arctic Seven forms of hyaluronic acid drench skin with hydration to offset the dryness mineral SPFs can sometimes leave behind, while echinacea and arctic root extracts keep excess sebum in check. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 May 2026 Due to Silfra’s arctic water temperatures of 35 degrees Fahrenheit, we were required to wear warm thermals as our base layer. — Carinne Geil Botta, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026 In this case, the brutal arctic winds met Peter I Island, which spun them into these striking shapes. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 12 May 2026 The dogs are more reliable than machines would be in sub-arctic temperatures, the website further states. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for arctic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arctic
  1. icy
  2. frigid
  3. freezing
  4. cold
  5. chilly
  6. chill
  7. cool
  8. polar
Adjective
  • Backstage, Punk had a friendly, if not icy, exchange with Damian Priest.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • The Perseid meteor shower is finally active, bringing the potential for gorgeous shooting stars and fireballs as Earth plunges into the trail of debris shed by the icy comet Swift-Tuttle.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of icy
Adjective
  • The 16-mile-wide (26 kilometer) giant of a comet spends its life journeying back and forth between the outer and inner solar system, where its frigid body is heated by the sun, triggering dramatic outbursts of activity.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 21 July 2026
  • That's when the US Airways captain steered Flight 1549 to a safe water landing on the frigid Hudson River, with both engines shut down from a bird strike — shortly after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 18 July 2026
Definition of frigid
Adjective
  • For even more dramatic alpine scenery, make the drive to Glacier National Park to hike beneath glaciers, spot rushing waterfalls fed by ancient ice fields, and brave a freezing cold plunge in an aquamarine glacier lake.
    — Alexandra Emanuelli, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2026
  • If freezing temperatures are predicted, pick any ripe fruit and cover the trunks of young trees with burlap or newspaper to insulate them.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 July 2026
Definition of freezing
Adjective
  • With the game clock frozen, Purple Reign’s offense went equally as cold.
    — Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • John Dillinger lay on a cold slab in the Cook County Morgue Monday.
    — Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • Likewise, the respite afforded by the twin hydration breaks has also reduced the need for improvised periods of gentlemanly repose, which in turn has lessened the demand for the chilly spray.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026
  • One man, Clifford Boisa, died immediately after being retrieved from the chilly water.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of chilly
Adjective
  • The 25, also non-chill filtered, is bottled at 47 percent ABV (94 proof), and that higher proof goes a long way to unlocking the flavor here.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 June 2026
  • It was bottled at 43% ABV and is non-chill filtered.
    — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of chill
Adjective
  • Phaedra pleads with Porsha to at least keep it cool at her birthday dinner that evening, but Porsha can’t even promise that.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • If Spain keep cool, then Argentina run hot; a warm-blooded, emotional, often chaotic side where performances swing wildly within games, never mind from one match to the next.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of cool
Adjective
  • When parents say no Nick, a 36-year-old who works in environmental compliance, has the polar opposite experience.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • During the current cycle, strong geomagnetic storms have repeatedly sent auroras far beyond their usual polar skies.
    — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of polar

Browse Nearby Words

arcs
arctic
ardency
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arctic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arctic. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on arctic

Nglish: Translation of arctic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about arctic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All