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Definition of coolnext
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as in downtown
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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cool

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verb

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as in to chill
to cause to lose heat cool your drinks in the icy mountain stream

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to hush
to become still and orderly after the recess, tempers had cooled, and we could have a civil, rational discussion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cool

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noun

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Synonym Chooser

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

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 cool
Adjective
Starting the new work week, Monday morning will be cool and crisp once again with temperatures in the 30s. Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026 The new all-inclusive resort sits just offshore from Ambergris Caye, and guests are welcomed at John Greif II Airport with Belizean fruit punch and a cool towel before the boat ride to Reef Haven. Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
Steep a tea bag in hot water for about 10 minutes and allow the tea to cool. Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026 Put a pin in it for a few days from now when emotions should have cooled. Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
Noun
Hemsworth brings interesting shadings to his role, showcasing the requisite amount of Steve McQueen-style macho cool (the iconic actor is pointedly referenced) but also conveying Davis’ increasing fear and vulnerability. Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026 The synth-heavy soundtrack is back, nodding to the greed-is-good eighties while evoking both an ultra-contemporary cool and an inhuman chill. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cool
Adjective
  • The stylish motel came under new ownership in 2025, now operated by a hospitality group with experience in real estate, finance, and art.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
  • For more of the most stylish ways to hide clutter in your kitchen, check out our favorites below.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Genealogy investigations have had major success stories Successfully using the DNA of distant family members to profile and narrow down suspects had an extraordinarily high-profile debut in 2018, when it was used to solve the cold case of the Golden State Killer.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
  • The oldest American woman to compete in the women’s singles event in nearly a century now sits in a distant 13th place ahead of the 4-minute free skate on Thursday night.
    Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Amid its evolution into a shopping and dining powerhouse, the neighborhood long craved a calm refuge.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
  • July 23 – August 22 A calm focus fuels your ambition more than chaotic passion.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The Gophers and Ducks were both ice cold in the first half, with the U holding an unsightly 22-13 lead.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The Antarctic Ocean is heavily layered, or stratified, to a depth of around 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) because of conflicting properties including colder, denser water from below not readily mixing with fresh water running off melting ice from above.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The bodies of eight had been left on the icy mountainside, and a final member of the group was still missing, presumed dead among the blanket of snow.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
  • An awkward moment between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei at an AI Summit Thursday captured the increasingly icy relations between two rival tech leaders who started off as colleagues.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • When the Denver Post offices were downtown, a group of reporters and editors always ran outside to watch.
    The Know, Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Almost everything on this list is directly downtown, with two or so things being a 10- to 15-minute drive away.
    Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • And, showcasing their awesome, frightening power, one avalanche derailed a train in Switzerland on Monday, injuring five on board, while another swept through a refuge on a French mountainside earlier this month, shattering windows and dumping snowdrifts inside the building’s kitchen.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
  • As this year’s Games neared its end, the awesome moments seemed to pile up, one atop another.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the head of the vaccines arm, Vinay Prasad, has made unilateral policy changes that could limit access to certain shots, while also chilling investment in the sector.
    Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Serve immediately or chill it for up to 24 hours in an airtight container.
    Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cool. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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