frigid
Americanadjective
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very cold in temperature.
a frigid climate.
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without warmth of feeling; without ardor or enthusiasm.
a frigid reaction to the suggested law.
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stiff or formal.
a welcome that was polite but frigid.
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(of a woman)
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inhibited in the ability to experience sexual excitement during sexual activity.
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unresponsive to sexual advances or stimuli.
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unemotional or unimaginative; lacking passion, sympathy, or sensitivity.
a correct, but frigid presentation.
adjective
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formal or stiff in behaviour or temperament; lacking in affection or warmth
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lacking sexual responsiveness
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averse to sexual intercourse or unable to achieve orgasm during intercourse
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characterized by physical coldness
a frigid zone
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of frigid
1590–1600; < Latin frīgidus, equivalent to frīg ( us ) coldness (akin to Greek rhîgos; see rigid) + -idus -id 4
Explanation
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.
Vocabulary lists containing frigid
Wintry Words
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Blizzard! Words to Learn on a Snow Day
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List 6
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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.
One caveat about the cold-weather pumps is that they need more electricity in frigid environments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
Arctic Research Commission has advised Congress and the president on what to study in the frigid and dynamic far north, from the environment to military security.
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2026
A 15-year-old boy has been rescued after spending days sitting atop a boat that had capsized in the frigid waters of Alaska's Bering Sea.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Carney said the goal of the energy support is "to help Ukrainians get through the winter," a difficult period when the country endures rolling blackouts amid often frigid temperatures.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
They waited, almost holding their breath in the still, frigid air.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
