having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others
the locals were cool towards outsidersthe schoolmaster's cool manner did not encourage chitchat
slang
keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment
a Greek island that's the current favorite of the cool crowd
How is the word cool different from other adjectives like it?
Some common synonyms of cool are collected, composed, imperturbable, nonchalant, and unruffled. While all these words mean "free from agitation or excitement," cool may imply calmness, deliberateness, or dispassionateness.
kept a cool head
Where would collected be a reasonable alternative to cool?
The words collected and cool can be used in similar contexts, but collected implies a concentration of mind that eliminates distractions especially in moments of crisis.
the nurse stayed calm and collected
When is composed a more appropriate choice than cool?
While in some cases nearly identical to cool, composed implies freedom from agitation as a result of self-discipline or a sedate disposition.
the composed pianist gave a flawless concert
When can imperturbable be used instead of cool?
Although the words imperturbable and cool have much in common, imperturbable implies coolness or assurance even under severe provocation.
the speaker remained imperturbable despite the heckling
When is it sensible to use nonchalant instead of cool?
The meanings of nonchalant and cool largely overlap; however, nonchalant stresses an easy coolness of manner or casualness that suggests indifference or unconcern.
a nonchalant driver
When might unruffled be a better fit than cool?
In some situations, the words unruffled and cool are roughly equivalent. However, unruffled suggests apparent serenity and poise in the face of setbacks or in the midst of excitement.
harried but unruffled
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cool
Adjective
Irma, several years younger, is a rising academic star, a scholarship student from a rural Catholic family, so unhip that her lack of touch is its own form of cool.—
B. D. McClay,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2026 Checks cover everything from ensuring fridges are available for keeping vaccines cool to determining how many children should be vaccinated.—Arkansas Online,
18 Oct. 2026
Verb
Rent growth has cooled since its pandemic-era spike, hovering near zero from mid-2023 through 2025, and rents on new leases are now edging down.—
Heather Occhino,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2026 Cooked spices with oil were improperly cooling in a deep five gallon bucket.—Sacbee.com,
16 Oct. 2026
Noun
Fog forms when moisture in the air cools and condenses near the ground, making late-summer weather especially noticeable to anyone watching for clues about the season ahead.—
Tricia Goss,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2026 Both are expected to improve in the next two to three weeks as the reservoir fully mixes and cools, city officials said.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cool
This fully electric, ultra-compact quadricycle is designed for short urban trips—like zipping down to the shops in a golf cart, but more stylish—offering a simpler alternative to traditional cars.
—
Lauryn Higgins,
Time,
15 Oct. 2026
In 2025, The Jay hotel in San Francisco teamed up with The Namesake, transforming a section of The Jay’s stylish Third Floor into an exclusive design studio.
Once such fallacious arguments were enthusiastically embraced, the horror of the Shoah was not far distant.
—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Oct. 2026
While officials insist the demolitions are a non-negotiable step toward revitalizing the corridor along Old National Highway, the families and owners left in the wake of the bulldozers say true recovery remains a distant promise.
Clear skies and calm winds will help temperatures drop into the mid- to upper 30s by early Saturday, forecasters said.
—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2026
Methanol masers have previously been detected in planet-forming disks around turbulent high-mass protostars, but COMPASS’ observations are the first detection of them around calmer lower-mass protostars.
The instigating weather system bringing the risk to the Southwest is an upper-level low — or a high altitude pocket of cold air, low pressure and spin.
—
Jamie Ross,
Washington Post,
21 Oct. 2026
The case went cold until 2014, when Stockwell was located and interviewed by cold case detectives.
In winter, some wetlands become more accessible as thick, spongelike layers of organic-rich peat freeze solid and become strong enough to support snow machines on their icy surfaces.
—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2026
Set against the Swiss Alps, the story follows an Englishman (Spall) found barely alive in an icy mountain stream by local woman Alma (Deleila Piasko) and her young son, Franz.
Recipe Tips for Pizza Dip To make ahead, assemble the dip, cover, and chill for up to one day.
—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
16 Oct. 2026
The department also argues that threatening officers with prosecution for protecting their identities and their families chills enforcement of federal law and compromises sensitive operations.
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