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
Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but sapphires—they’re like your way cooler friend who stays out late and can shoot pool with the best of them.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
26 Oct. 2026 After making the cake, simply wrap it in cheesecloth and plastic wrap, then store it in a cool, dark place (that’s not your fridge) for two to three days.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2026
Verb
About 20 pounds of cooked whole chicken from the previous day was improperly cooling.—Sacbee.com,
23 Oct. 2026 Intriguingly, the pseudogap-like signature emerged even when the electrons had cooled below the temperature at which the material normally becomes superconducting.—
Sven Badoux,
New Atlas,
23 Oct. 2026
Noun
Monday night’s childish spectacle saw Jackson marching into the midfield, losing his cool, and throwing a bare-knuckle punch at Chubb.—
Alejandro Avila Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for cool
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.
And without colder weather, where the temperatures drop and stay below zero, the result will likely be a smaller snowpack.
—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
29 Oct. 2026
How bad the flu season gets each year depends on factors such as the dominant flu strain, how well the annual vaccine matches it, how many people get vaccinated, tourism levels, and how much cold weather leads to more indoor gatherings.
—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Oct. 2026
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