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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in distant
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
received a cold reception from the hostess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unconscious
having lost consciousness
the boxer was out cold for a few minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in fallen
no longer living
paramedics tried to revive him, but he was already cold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in freeze
a weather condition marked by low temperatures
the cold will stay with us for another day, then temperatures should rise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in plain
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
However, the complexities of the modern workforce are increasingly leading retention less toward human experience and interaction and more toward cold, hard dollar figures.
—Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Gombrowicz just had to get through that first night in the city of Buenos Aires, surrounded by an unfamiliar language that filtered in, like the winter cold, through the windows and under the door.
—Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Unable to regulate their body temperature, a cold-stunned sea turtle becomes lethargic, stops swimming, and floats to the surface, where the wind and waves can push them to dangerous waters.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold
Adjective
For more than three decades, the murder of Randy Gail Sperino haunted investigators in southern Illinois — a cold case centered on a young woman beaten to death and left in a rural field while her killer seemingly vanished without a trace.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
However, the complexities of the modern workforce are increasingly leading retention less toward human experience and interaction and more toward cold, hard dollar figures.
—Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Noun
Instead of serving up cabbage cold and covered in mayonnaise, bring this warm casserole to your next potluck.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Gombrowicz just had to get through that first night in the city of Buenos Aires, surrounded by an unfamiliar language that filtered in, like the winter cold, through the windows and under the door.
—Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Adverb
Whenever this happens, iguanas, which are accustomed to hot weather, become cold-stunned.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Unable to regulate their body temperature, a cold-stunned sea turtle becomes lethargic, stops swimming, and floats to the surface, where the wind and waves can push them to dangerous waters.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold
Adjective
-
Partway up the trail, three penguins waddled past, entirely unbothered by the humans who stepped aside for them, and then belly-slid into the freezing water.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
-
Tropical hibiscus should be brought indoors when temperatures drop below about 55 degrees, while cold-hardy types like Rose of Sharon can tolerate freezing temperatures and overwinter outdoors in zones 5 to 9.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
These red carpet-worthy pieces include dramatically draping diamond necklaces, icy diamond and ruby bracelets, superb emerald and diamond jewels and celestial sapphire and diamond rings.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
That combination — throwback excitement plus icy intrigue — proves to be a winning one.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
All are available as ground-floor garden units (timber floors; a king-size bed centered on doors opening onto a private terrace and garden) or upstairs (mirrored in layout but with plush carpets and four-poster beds; views of the surrounding gardens and distant mountains from Juliet balconies).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
-
This magisterial polemic demonstrates how what may appear to be distant American history remains acutely relevant.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Ding, who was initially knocked unconscious and suffered serious head and shoulder injuries, was placed in handcuffs.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
-
One of them inhaled water and became unconscious, NBC 5 and CBS News Chicago reported, citing authorities.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
In the second, highly lethal variant of the Black Death, patients typically exhibited no initial symptoms, such as the onset of a fever or the appearance of buboes, but instead would suddenly begin to vomit up blood (that was usually dark in color) and typically died soon thereafter.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
-
The nose combines campfire smoke, toasted coconut, and sea spray with vanilla fudge and dark sugar.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Outside his job, Kilduff volunteered for the Gary Sinise Foundation, supporting veterans, first responders and the families of fallen heroes across the country.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Be sure to pick up fallen fruits, veggies, flowers, and branches, and clean up the bird seed under feeders, too.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The oats will die off slowly after a series of hard freezes.—
Special to The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
But a closer look reveals missing buds, blossoms and small fruit damage caused by a sudden freeze after an unusually warm stretch of weather between April 19 and April 21.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Adverb
-
The computing power needs, the competition from Anthropic, the potential for a more business-to-business stream of revenue, the fear that all of the big institutions that own it will want to cash out, makes this one plain fraught.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
-
The decision after review to award a penalty against Palace defender Jaydee Canvot for accidental handball on the goal line was plain wrong in law.—
Graham Scott,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
