cozy
Americanadjective
-
cozier,
comparative
-
coziest
superlative
-
comfortable and snug.
We live in a cozy little house with a small garden in the back.
-
convenient or beneficial, usually as a result of dishonesty or connivance.
A very cozy agreement between competing firms had kept the industry profitable for years.
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suggesting opportunistic or conspiratorial intimacy.
The exposé revealed a cozy relationship between lobbyists and some politicians.
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discreetly reticent or noncommittal.
The administrators are remaining cozy about which policy they plan to adopt.
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relating to a genre of mystery stories with little suspense, explicit violence, or sexual content, often also having amateur sleuths and idyllic, intimate settings.
I read lots of different books, but I like cozy mysteries best.
Charming characters and just the right amount of danger make this cozy series a delight to read.
noun
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cozies
plural
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a padded covering for a teapot or coffeepot to retain the heat of the contents.
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a mystery story with little suspense, explicit violence, or sexual content, often also having amateur sleuths and idyllic, intimate settings.
I started out reading cozies and moved on to the hard-boiled detective novels.
verb (used with object)
verb phrase
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of cozy
First recorded in 1700–10; from Scots colsie, perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian koselig “cozy,” kose seg “to enjoy oneself”
Explanation
The adjective cozy describes being comfortable and warm, like when you feel cozy curled up on the couch under a soft blanket, in front of a roaring fire. "Isn't this cozy?" If you hear these words, you might be in a friendly, casual place where everyone feels welcome. Or, perhaps you are in a small cabin that is warm and dry as they rain pours down outside. Or you have just stumbled upon the judge of a writing contest having dinner with one of the aspiring novelists — cozy can also mean "scheming." And as a noun? A cozy is a padded cloth used to keep a teapot warm.
Vocabulary lists containing cozy
The Circuit
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
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Words to Describe Homes
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A tumultuous year marred by wildfires, tariffs, immigration raids, increasing rent and labor costs saw some of the city’s most famous restaurants closing, from Michelin-starred fine dining to cozy mom-and-pop spots.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
The main living space in the dwelling features hardwood vaulted ceilings with exposed beams and a cozy wood-burning fireplace, while the spacious kitchen has plenty of room for a dining area.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
At the start of each week’s show, Byrd told viewers to cozy up with a loved one.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026
Mr. Mamdani and big labor appear to have a cozy relationship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
The two of them looked at the pot of bubbling sauce, which had seemed so cozy while they were making it and now looked like a vat of blood.
From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket
Horseradish is often at its best when it cozies up to cream, like in a traditional steak sauce, or when it mingles with tomatoes, as in a classic cocktail sauce.
From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2025
In my mind, the biggest problem with this isn’t necessarily that he cozies up to pseudoscience.
From Slate ● Jan. 20, 2025
It cozies up a space and provides cushioning for a tired cook’s feet.
From Washington Times ● May 9, 2023
When Di cozies up to a smitten boy, Diem’s camera watches them walk away.
From New York Times ● Dec. 15, 2022
"Zeems to me tha's zummat like the burd what cozies a new mate ivery zummer!"
From The Treasure of Heaven A Romance of Riches by Marie Corelli
The pitch: A members club offering a cozier take on fractional jet ownership.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
If OpenAI gets cozier with the government, Altman will likely have significant influence over AI regulations, said PitchBook analyst Harrison Rolfes.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
A large open-plan kitchen comes complete with a casual dining space, ideal for hosting large groups, while the sun-soaked living room boasts its own fireplace for cozier evenings during the winter months.
From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026
What could be cozier than a flock of charismatic sheep hunting their shepherd’s killer?
From Salon ● May 17, 2026
The fireplace didn’t work, but even the idea of it made the room cozier.
From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn
This roasting kit helps revive one of wintertime’s coziest pleasures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025
The busiest block party weekend of the summer provides ample reason for music lovers around the city to visit two of Seattle’s coziest enclaves.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 10, 2023
The coziest of cozy British mysteries, based on G.K.
From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2023
If that doesn’t sound like the coziest of holiday reunions, Mungiu is just getting warmed up, or rather cooled down.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2023
He made the hole in the bag still larger, crawled inside, and curled up in the coziest bed he had ever known.
From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary
The rear cabin matches the front in molded-leather magnificence, with two deep-seated, high-bolstered rear chairs cozied up between the wheel wells, sharing an armrest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026
We listened in rapt, reverential awe, cozied by Vienna’s velvet strings, velvet winds and velvet brass woven together in a perfect tapestry of lush sonic textures and instrumental colors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2024
Recently, 50 Cent has cozied up to Republican politicians.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2024
“McKinsey now has offices all over the world, and from them they’ve cozied up to some truly terrible clients,” Oliver said.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 3, 2023
Further research revealed that Penkovsky, as an intelligence officer, had cozied up to some of the highest-ranking members of the Soviet military.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
It’s not just El-Sayed who is cozying up to Piker.
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2026
Faye, meanwhile, is disturbed at the sight of her agent and editor cozying up to Abby; are they plotting to dump Faye in favor of her nemesis?
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
The couple first sparked romance rumors in July when they were seen cozying up in Spain together.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 4, 2026
And if you’ve worked for men cozying up to the new boss, you’ll recognize the undertones of organizational zealotry in “Severance.”
From Salon ● Jan. 17, 2025
I remember cozying up in Mom’s bed, her laptop in front of us, and feeling happy.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
