cold 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkōld How to pronounce cold (audio)
Definition of coldnext
1
as in freezing
having a low or subnormal temperature the cold climate of the Yukon an unusually cold spring that was followed by a sweltering summer

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2
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling the prisoners got only a cold stare when they tried to befriend the guard

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3
as in distant
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others received a cold reception from the hostess

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4
as in unconscious
having lost consciousness the boxer was out cold for a few minutes

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5
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer the couple practiced a cold civility with each other, but they hadn't had a heart-to-heart talk in years

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6
as in fallen
no longer living paramedics tried to revive him, but he was already cold

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cold

2 of 3

noun

as in freeze
a weather condition marked by low temperatures the cold will stay with us for another day, then temperatures should rise

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cold

3 of 3

adverb

as in plain

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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 cold
Adjective
Between the milk to matcha ratios, to whether or not a drink needs a cold foam, the two take their time to understand the intricacies of making a tasty drink. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026 Taking the time to prepare plants for colder temperatures can go a long way in keeping them healthy and protected until springtime. — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
Black’s wife, who had summoned Bell, was concerned that her husband was coming down with a cold. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 On a night this cold, the bursts of flame were almost as welcome as the spectacle, providing a few seconds of actual warmth to fans on the field and in the lower bowl. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 18 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Or serve it cold spooned over Brie cheese. — Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 1 June 2026 It will be equipped to process and service new steel products coming down the line at Big River like galvanized and cold-rolled steel. — Arkansas Online, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold
  1. freezing
  2. icy
  3. distant
  4. unconscious
  5. dark
  6. fallen
  7. freeze
  8. plain
Adjective
  • The beautiful, bright, and incredibly chic three-story abode leads up to a private roof terrace covered in pines with a freezing plunge pool at its center, and an unassuming wooden door that leads to a private sauna.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Freeze Warning The stronger of the two alerts, this warning calls for sub-freezing temperatures dropping as low as 30 degrees.
    — Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of freezing
Adjective
  • Tennis superstar Serena Williams just updated her look for winter, showing off an icy blond look as her color for the season.
    — Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Roads could remain icy through Sunday, so be mindful of driving conditions in the Sierra into early next week.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of icy
Adjective
  • An exuberant pre-dawn sky — filled with large, bright stars, a luminous crescent moon, and blue and white swirls — dominates the landscape featuring a prominent cypress tree and distant hillside village.
    — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The changes include allowing the adoption of distant male relatives raised as commoners to become royals and father future heirs, and letting princesses keep their royal status after marrying commoners.
    — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of distant
Adjective
  • Eric Anderson said the man was a transient known to the agency and was found unconscious Sunday afternoon near the park’s south entrance off Katella Avenue.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Officers found an unconscious adult man who was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of unconscious
Adjective
  • The ad is characteristic of the increasingly dark tone Hilton’s campaign has taken on in the home stretch.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Netanyahu's supporters see him as a steady hand and a consummate statesman who has led Israel through a war of redemption after the country's darkest hour.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • While Kyiv and Moscow have maintained limited contact to organize prisoner exchanges and the return of fallen soldiers, previous talks have made no progress on the security arrangements needed to sustain a peace deal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • When the men return from Sheriffmuir with the bodies of their fallen comrades, Colum has to grapple with his role in their deaths.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of fallen
Noun
  • Finance had heard about a procurement freeze during a renewal conversation.
    — Greg Genung, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Fuel duty freeze There was some good news for motorists amid high petrol prices as fuel duty will be frozen for the 16th year in a row.
    — Marc Shoffman, TheWeek, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of freeze
Adverb
  • At last, maybe some life, and maybe not too late — but, oh, wait, that wide receiver just plain dropped it.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • But that kind of growth opportunity is not only hard-won, but just plain hard.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of plain

Phrases Containing cold

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col
cold
cold-blooded
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Cite this Entry

“Cold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cold

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cold

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