Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Extremely cold in temperature: Describes something that is intensely and unpleasantly cold.
   • Lacking warmth of feeling; unfriendly and formal: Describes a manner, atmosphere, or expression that is emotionally cold, stiff, and unwelcoming.
   • (Of a woman) Sexually unresponsive: An outdated and clinical term used to describe a woman who lacks sexual desire or responsiveness.

Usage Examples

• Describing temperature:
  • The explorers faced frigid winds as they crossed the tundra.
  • We swam in the frigid waters of the lake.
• Describing an unfriendly manner:
  • She gave him a frigid stare that made him stop talking.
  • The meeting was conducted in a frigid atmosphere of mutual distrust.
• Describing sexual unresponsiveness (dated/clinical):
  • The old medical text described her condition as frigid.

Advanced Usage

• "Frigid zone": A geographical term for the cold regions of the earth near the poles.
  • The Arctic is part of the north frigid zone.
• Used metaphorically to describe an emotionally cold personality or environment.
  • His frigid demeanor made it hard for anyone to get close to him.

Variants and Related Words

• Frigidity (noun): The state or quality of being frigid (can refer to coldness, emotional coldness, or sexual unresponsiveness).
  • The frigidity of the air was unbearable.
  • Her emotional frigidity was a defense mechanism.

Synonyms

• Icy: Very cold; or, very unfriendly.
• Glacial: Extremely cold; or, very slow and cold in manner.
• Frosty: Very cold; or, unfriendly and cool in demeanor.
• Arctic: Pertaining to extreme cold.
• Gelid: (Literary) Icy, extremely cold.

Antonyms

• Warm: Having or giving out a moderate degree of heat; or, friendly and affectionate.
• Tropical: Very hot and humid.
• Passionate: Showing or caused by strong feelings or a strong belief; or, showing strong sexual feeling.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "A frigid reception": A very cold, unwelcoming, or hostile greeting.
  • The controversial proposal received a frigid reception from the committee.
• "Frigid politeness": A manner that is formally polite but completely lacking in genuine warmth.
  • They exchanged only a few words of frigid politeness.

Adjective

1. devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
   • a frigid greeting
   • got a frosty reception
   • a frozen look on their faces
   • a glacial handshake
   • icy stare
   • wintry smile
2. extremely cold
   • an arctic climate
   • a frigid day
   • gelid waters of the North Atlantic
   • glacial winds
   • icy hands
   • polar weather
3. sexually unresponsive
   • was cold to his advances
   • a frigid woman