1
as in icy
having a low or subnormal temperature
the Titanic passengers could not long survive the gelid waters of the North Atlantic
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frigid
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
the judge listened with the gelid detachment of someone who had heard it all before
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of gelid
Togo tirelessly led his pack most of the way, pushing the other dogs to ignore powerful headwinds, deep snow, uphill climbs and gelid temperatures.
—
David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025
Moss brought an uncanny, even creepy quality to the character which added to the show’s gelid mystique.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2022
Instead, most of its plasma comes from icy volcanism on Enceladus, a gelid moon that erupts water-ice slush from deep crevasses around its south pole.
—Robin Andrews, Wired, 22 Feb. 2022
Settings range globally without fanfare, as do Krauss’s gelid portraits of modern arrangements.
—Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2020
Admittedly, former commercials director Niccol is terrific at composing looks; however, an assemblage of glossy, gelid sequences does not necessarily add up to a satisfying cohesive film.
—Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2019
Ungainly in looks, but a natural for work — each hoof a snowshoe, with hollow fur for warmth and to buoy them across gelid Arctic rivers.
—Christopher Solomon, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2019
But other ailments that are either directly or tangentially related to the gelid weather have multiplied.
—John Benson, cleveland.com, 4 Jan. 2018
David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025
Moss brought an uncanny, even creepy quality to the character which added to the show’s gelid mystique.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2022
Instead, most of its plasma comes from icy volcanism on Enceladus, a gelid moon that erupts water-ice slush from deep crevasses around its south pole.
—Robin Andrews, Wired, 22 Feb. 2022
Settings range globally without fanfare, as do Krauss’s gelid portraits of modern arrangements.
—Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2020
Admittedly, former commercials director Niccol is terrific at composing looks; however, an assemblage of glossy, gelid sequences does not necessarily add up to a satisfying cohesive film.
—Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2019
Ungainly in looks, but a natural for work — each hoof a snowshoe, with hollow fur for warmth and to buoy them across gelid Arctic rivers.
—Christopher Solomon, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2019
But other ailments that are either directly or tangentially related to the gelid weather have multiplied.
—John Benson, cleveland.com, 4 Jan. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gelid
Adjective
-
In Nashville, Tennessee, a small nonprofit mobilized volunteers to check on elderly and homebound neighbors, salt icy driveways, and run emergency errands.—
Cat Ward,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Passengers faced a chilling ordeal when their cruise ship became stuck in icy Antarctic waters.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Another child, a toddler, died at a Virginia hospital after being pulled from a frigid pond Monday, according to local police.—
Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Saturday remains sharply frigid, with wind chills holding between 5 and 10 degrees.—
Justin Lewis,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Temperatures could repeatedly drop well below seasonal averages, with some cold snaps 20 to 30 degrees colder than normal, forecasts suggest.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Feb. 2026
-
His family-run nursery specializes in growing cold-hardy citrus trees.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Whether it's been a few days or a few years, a forkful of liver and onions will always deliver a dose of nostalgia—after all, this was the recipe so many Southern grandmas made to keep warm and fortified on an unseasonably chilly day.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
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The light wooden furniture, cosy space and Mediterranean menu offers a pleasant respite from the chilly damp of London’s winter.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The problem will be Tuesday night when temperatures drop below freezing and re-freezing occurs.—
Michael Autovino,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Despite freezing temperatures, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in the days following Pretti’s death, intensifying a standoff between Minnesota officials, federal agents, and activists opposed to the administration’s immigration crackdown.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Pairing well with pizza, Piggy Pop is the perfect bottle for a ‘Netflix and chill’ Valentine’s date.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The whiskey is non-chill filtered.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Carden-Lovell recommends splurging on time off, taking advantage of shoulder season's lower prices, thinner crowds and cooler weather (outside spring break periods, of course).—
Natalie B. Compton The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
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The air 15 to 20 degrees cooler than usual, the 60s for Saturday morning qualifying and Saturday afternoon’s race.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gelid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gelid. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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