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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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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
Summer is the best time to test the soil of lawns consisting of cool-season grass and pastures. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025 Its stony soil and cool climate produce lower yields, but more expressive flavors, especially in chardonnay, pinot noir, and sparkling wines. Alexandra Emanuelli, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
Aesthetics aside, the sneakers possess notable comfort-centric designs like a cooling, memory foam insole, a heel cushion to keep your foot in place, and a shock-absorbing midsole. Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025 Temperatures remained moderate to cool, and the inversion layer persisted over the fire for most of the day with partly to mostly cloudy skies and moderate smoky conditions. Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
False fall is a brief cool-down in late August or early September that often misleads people. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2025 If the flame heating the air at the base of the balloon stops, the air inside cools, and the balloon begins to collapse. ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cool
Adjective
  • Lovevook Laptop Tote Bag Looking stylish for work doesn’t have to mean compromising on function.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Thankfully, Amazon has plenty of stylish wrinkle-free tops that won’t get creased on the way to your destination.
    Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • With her brother and his girlfriend still distant, she is left hoping time will ease the awkwardness created over one special dress.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
  • His competitors have become distant runners up.
    John Hyatt, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The airport in Cap-Haïtien was calm and orderly, the streets were alive with daily commerce and children in bright yellow uniforms played together during recess.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the decent people who are likely to pay attention to calls for calm and cool aren’t the ones raising the temperature anyway.
    Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The fair also will feature two stages of music, an entertainment dome, mouthwatering festival food and plenty of cold beer.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025
  • In a study, the team describes how cooling a gas of radioactive atoms to temperatures colder than deep space could synchronize their radioactive decay.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • And these cars tend to be driven in fair weather, not on icy roads.
    Josh Max, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Just last year, scientists announced the news that New Horizons found the Kuiper Belt—a vast outer zone of hundreds of thousands of small, icy worlds beyond the orbit of Neptune—might extend much farther out than previously thought.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • A day of concerts continued as planned in the downtown Milwaukee park July 12.
    Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 13 July 2025
  • The District Energy System has provided heat and cooling to dozen of buildings downtown like the Downtown Public Library, Tennessee Capitol Building and the Ryman Auditorium since its launch in 1974.
    Amber Roberson, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • That rules, actually, that video is awesome.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • But the people there were awesome.
    Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Scientists at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) have developed Korea’s first homegrown Liquid Air Energy Storage system, which uses surplus electricity to chill air into liquid, store it, and later release it to generate power.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
  • While this criticism is overstated, as a lot of his books have bone-chilling finales or thematically rich conclusions, there are certainly a lot of stories where he's failed to land the plane.
    James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cool. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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