polar

adjective

ˈpō-lər How to pronounce polar (audio)
Definition of polarnext
1
as in contradictory
being as different as possible they're friends despite their polar positions on a number of issues

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in icy
having a low or subnormal temperature a polar air mass seemed to have settled over our area in January

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 polar His measurements showed that the material could shift between antipolar and polar states. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026 But, Barrera and Shaw, who registered the highest vote percentages in a crowded primary, have polar opposite political leanings and very different priorities for the state schools role. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026 The new record, known as the Ice Sheet Mass Balance Inter-comparison Exercise (IMBIE), gives us the most complete look at polar ice loss over past decades. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026 The circulation is strongest when the temperature difference between the cold polar region and warmer areas farther south becomes large. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for polar
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polar
  1. contradictory
  2. icy
  3. opposite
  4. frigid
  5. contrary
  6. cold
  7. freezing
  8. chilly
Adjective
  • There is contradictory evidence about Presnell’s intellectual capacity.
    — Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This new-wave hotel offers proof that opulence and discretion needn’t be contradictory.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of contradictory
Adjective
  • The series follows Rafe Spall, an amnesiac Englishman found barely alive in an icy Swiss stream and taken in by a Swiss villager.
    — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • As warming forces the krill southward, the penguins can’t follow because the water is too icy for them.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of icy
Adjective
  • Eyck Freymann, a Hoover fellow at Stanford University and the author of Defending Taiwan, believes that now, a US blockade would have the opposite effect.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The fridge and microwave are located behind the main kitchen block on the vehicle's opposite sidewall.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of opposite
Adjective
  • On a frigid but bright December morning, David Ellison, his top legal chief Makan Delrahim and coterie of executives took over a subterranean space in the New York City office of investment bank UBS.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The infamous flying-kick-head-butt challenge on Cobi Jones during the 2002 World Cup round of 16 was followed by a kung-fu-like kick on Tim Howard in the frigid Columbus air in World Cup qualifying in 2009.
    — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of frigid
Adjective
  • Agree on what each role must contribute, how contrary information will surface and what behavior the team wants to observe.
    — Samuel Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Each year, half the NFL cycles through offensive coordinators, and though there are contrary examples, continuity matters.
    — Zak Keefer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of contrary
Adjective
  • The spa is set to open in mid-December and promises to have a range of treatments including massages, facials, and hot/cold therapy.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Concrete is rigid, cold, and dead; land is living and breathing.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • With that, Dorinda gathers everyone (except for Chanel Ayan, who is too beautiful for the cold) out into the freezing night for the fireworks that end this celebration.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The hot water gushing into an isolated region of the freezing depths could have attracted microorganisms and possibly other life forms that were otherwise struggling to survive.
    — Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of freezing
Adjective
  • The faux-fur lining adds warmth on chilly days, while the cooling memory foam insoles and roomy toe area keep your feet comfortable.
    — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Add the treats to a small boo basket for your dog, or save them for an after-dinner snack for chilly October nights.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of chilly

Browse Nearby Words

poky
polar
polarity
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Cite this Entry

“Polar.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polar. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about polar

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