frosty
adjective
ˈfrȯ-stē 
frostier; frostiest
1
a
: attended with or producing frost : freezing
b
: briskly cold : chilly
2
: covered or appearing as if covered with frost : hoary
a man of 65, with frosty eyebrows and hair
Nan Robertson
Nan Robertson3
: marked by coolness or extreme reserve in manner
his smile was distinctly frosty Erle Stanley Gardner
Erle Stanley Gardner frostily
ˈfrȯ-stə-lē
adverb frostiness
ˈfrȯ-stē-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- algid
- arctic
- bitter
- bone-chilling
- chill
- chilly
- cold
- coldish
- cool
- coolish
- freezing
- frigid
- gelid
- glacial
- ice-cold
- icy
- nipping
- nippy
- numbing
- polar
- shivery
- snappy
- wintry
- wintery
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
We received a frosty welcome. a frosty autumn that was a sign of the brutal winter that followed
Recent Examples on the Web The letters also underlined another theme in The Crown — the frosty relationship between the duke and the rest of the royal family. Maria Mercedes Lara, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 The relationship between Moreno and Sidhu, never better than frosty, appears to have irreparably frayed. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2022 Relations between the two countries had been frosty for years, but deteriorated rapidly after April 2020 when Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. Julia Hollingsworth, CNN, 30 Mar. 2022 Tsitsipas, whose relationship with Medvedev has long been frosty, smiled when asked about Friday’s outburst. New York Times, 28 Jan. 2022 The inexplicable saga of the Choco Taco helps explain why some drivers have a frosty relationship with Unilever, which owns Klondike, Good Humor and other recognizable ice-cream brands. Ben Cohen, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 Biden met later Thursday with Benjamin Netanyahu, the former prime minister who was close to Trump and with whom the current president has enjoyed a frosty relationship. Noah Biermanstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2022 So was predicting the government’s frosty relationship with the private sector had thawed. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 11 July 2022 Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who early on had a frosty relationship with Abe, sent a condolence message to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday, a day after most other world leaders issued their statements. Mari Yamaguchi, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2022 See More
Maria Mercedes Lara, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 The relationship between Moreno and Sidhu, never better than frosty, appears to have irreparably frayed. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2022 Relations between the two countries had been frosty for years, but deteriorated rapidly after April 2020 when Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. Julia Hollingsworth, CNN, 30 Mar. 2022 Tsitsipas, whose relationship with Medvedev has long been frosty, smiled when asked about Friday’s outburst. New York Times, 28 Jan. 2022 The inexplicable saga of the Choco Taco helps explain why some drivers have a frosty relationship with Unilever, which owns Klondike, Good Humor and other recognizable ice-cream brands. Ben Cohen, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 Biden met later Thursday with Benjamin Netanyahu, the former prime minister who was close to Trump and with whom the current president has enjoyed a frosty relationship. Noah Biermanstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2022 So was predicting the government’s frosty relationship with the private sector had thawed. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 11 July 2022 Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who early on had a frosty relationship with Abe, sent a condolence message to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday, a day after most other world leaders issued their statements. Mari Yamaguchi, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
frosty
adjective
ˈfrȯ-stē
frostier; frostiest
1
: covered with frost
a frosty window
2
: cold enough to produce frost
a frosty evening
frosty
adjective
1
as in icy
having a low or subnormal temperature a frosty autumn that was a sign of the brutal winter that followed Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- icy
- cold
- chilly
- frigid
- freezing
- chill
- cool
- arctic
- wintry
- polar
- bitter
- shivery
- glacial
- wintery
- nippy
- chilled
- gelid
- ice-cold
- brisk
- coolish
- cooled
- coldish
- bone-chilling
- numbing
- nipping
- crisp
- algid
- snappy
- subzero
- subfreezing
- cryogenic
- frozen
- iced
- frosted
- penetrating
- piercing
- invigorating
- ultracold
- cutting
- bracing
- unheated
- sharp
- refrigerated
- rigorous
- keen
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hot
- warming
- sultry
- fiery
- sweltering
- warm
- scorching
- torrid
- boiling
- molten
- glowing
- tepid
- sizzling
- lukewarm
- blazing
- fervent
- ardent
- searing
- fervid
- igneous
- burning
- seething
- broiling
- heated
- scalding
- warmed
- roasting
- toasty
- ultrahot
- tropical
- overheated
- reheated
- white-hot
- piping hot
- red-hot
- snug
- feverish
- muggy
- steamy
- inflamed
- summery
- equatorial
- flushed
- enflamed
- canicular
2
as in cold
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others her response was frosty enough to tell me she didn't appreciate the question Synonyms & Similar Words
- cold
- distant
- detached
- cool
- dry
- reserved
- aloof
- remote
- standoffish
- antisocial
- silent
- withdrawn
- unsociable
- offish
- unbending
- timid
- clinical
- standoff
- professional
- asocial
- shy
- unclubbable
- hard
- cold-eyed
- buttoned-up
- unsocial
- reclusive
- misanthropic
- indifferent
- indrawn
- dispassionate
- recessive
- impersonal
- introverted
- apathetic
- taciturn
- unconcerned
- disinterested
- uninterested
- diffident
- uncommunicative
- reticent
- incurious
- nongregarious
- cliquey
- cliquish
- clubbish
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- warm
- cordial
- social
- friendly
- sociable
- convivial
- companionable
- expansive
- gregarious
- outgoing
- extroverted
- talkative
- communicative
- boon
- genial
- garrulous
- clubby
- hospitable
- folksy
- amiable
- affable
- gracious
- congenial
- clubbable
- agreeable
- neighborly
- clubable
- extraverted
- kindly
3
as in chilly
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling she gave the telemarketer on the phone a frosty "No, thank you" and hung up Synonyms & Similar Words
- icy
- cold
- chilly
- frigid
- cool
- arctic
- chill
- frozen
- brittle
- wintry
- reserved
- gelid
- glacial
- clammy
- wintery
- unfriendly
- coldish
- detached
- antiseptic
- unsympathetic
- uncordial
- hard-eyed
- cold-eyed
- pitiless
- uncaring
- heartless
- unemotional
- coldhearted
- cold-blooded
- unfeeling
- soulless
- bloodless
- aloof
- unresponsive
- undemonstrative
- indifferent
- dispassionate
- unenthusiastic
- uninterested
- standoffish
- impersonal
- apathetic
- offish
- antisocial
- unsociable
- unsocial
- hard-hearted
- kindless
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- warm
- cordial
- sympathetic
- friendly
- happy
- genial
- hearty
- kind
- emotional
- compassionate
- warm-blooded
- warmhearted
- expressive
- enthusiastic
- eager
- demonstrative
- kindhearted
- passionate