icy

adjective

ˈī-sē How to pronounce icy (audio)
Definition of icynext
1
as in frigid
having a low or subnormal temperature an icy drink that was especially refreshing on that hot afternoon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cold
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling she wondered why the salesclerk at the boutique had given her an icy glare

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 icy One constant is the promise of a sauna (and an icy plunge) at the end of the day. — Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026 Astronomers have witnessed a small, icy body that orbits the sun out beyond Jupiter transforming into a comet, providing a missing link between comets and inert bodies called centaurs. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Shaped to perfection by evolution, snow leopards live solitary lives in the highest reaches of the Himalaya, surrounded only by glaciers, snow, rocks, and icy peaks. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026 Strawberry and peach blondes add an unexpected wash of warmth, mushroom blonde brings a smoky, cooler edge, and icy shades aren’t disappearing entirely. — Kat Suico, InStyle, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for icy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icy
  1. frigid
  2. cold
  3. freezing
  4. chilly
  5. chill
  6. cool
  7. brittle
  8. arctic
Adjective
  • Consider using an anti-desiccant spray in the early spring, which adds a protective waxy layer to the leaves that helps reduce temperature loss during frigid, dry weather.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 8 Sep. 2026
  • On a planet where the temperature can top 800 degrees, the poles are frigid with deep, permanently shadowed craters packed with ice.
    — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of frigid
Adjective
  • New England had a 3rd-and-1 close to midfield, but its rush attempt was stopped cold and the Patriots punted.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
  • These days still call for cold drinks and as little clothing as is practicable.
    — Brenda Looper, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • But, as mad as the idea may have seemed back then, the tradition is still going strong 40 years later with participants coming from around the world to cast their dignity aside — along with a warm robe — and take the plunge into the freezing water.
    — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In addition, Moscow continued its efforts to wreck the Ukrainian power grid before the freezing winter months.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of freezing
Adjective
  • The Vuori Women’s Sedona Pullover Hoodie is cropped and crafted from super-soft French terry, while the Vuori Women’s Alltheform Fitness Jacket is the perfect moisture-wicking layer for chilly morning runs.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The thick knit has rib detailing throughout the sweater, and the material is breathable to work for chilly days and nights.
    — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of chilly
Adjective
  • Judd’s furniture asks you to admire it; Heilmann’s asks you to sit down and chill.
    — Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Older age statements, barrel-strength bottlings, non-chill filtration, single barrels, micro-batches and distinctive packaging led to sustained success in export markets like Japan and Europe.
    — Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of chill
Adjective
  • The Lightblaze Sneakers are functional and cool, combining responsive support with trending details, including suede, animal print, and metallic accents.
    — Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Rather markets sending yields lower to account for a slower economy and cooler inflation, yields have marched higher.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of cool
Adjective
  • That converts execution from brittle screen-scraping into a clean engineering problem.
    — Oleg Nesterov, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Ever Pure Thickening Sulfate-Free Shampoo is for everyone, but especially for those who would describe their hair as thin, brittle, weak, prone to breakage, and slow to grow.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of brittle
Adjective
  • Justin Sauers, the tower’s operator, opened a door in the cabin to greet Donnelly, releasing an arctic blast.
    — Robert Sullivan, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • His firm has been tracking worldwide advertising content for years, and it's seen a 30% to 40% increase in ad spend targeting warmer regions with arctic imagery.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of arctic

Browse Nearby Words

icons
icy
ID
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Icy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icy. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All