Frigid

/ˈfrɪdʒɪd/

IPA guide

Other forms: frigidest

Like the North Pole on the coldest day of winter, frigid is an adjective that means extremely chilly. It applies to both temperatures and personalities.

Frigid comes to us from the Latin frigidus, meaning “cold, chill, cool” or “indifferent.” That explains why it's used to describe both arctic weather and someone's particularly unfriendly demeanor. So the inside of your ice box is certainly frigid, but so is a stern boss who refuses to smile or say hi when you hop in the same elevator. His glare is so emotionally frosty that it freezes you in your tracks.

Definitions of frigid

adjective
extremely cold

“a frigid day”

synonyms: arctic, freezing, gelid, glacial, icy, polar

cold
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
adjective
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

“a frigid greeting”

synonyms: frosty, frozen, glacial, icy, wintry

cold
extended meanings; especially of psychological coldness; without human warmth or emotion
adjective
sexually unresponsive

synonyms:
unloving
not giving or reciprocating affection

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