Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

cool-headed

American  
[kool-hed-id] / ˈkulˈhɛd ɪd /

adjective

  1. not easily excited; calm.


Other Word Forms

  • cool-headedly adverb
  • coolheadedness noun

Etymology

Origin of cool-headed

First recorded in 1770–80

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.

We need a cool-headed assessment of our options and the Iranians’ possible responses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Longyearbyen's residents, who hail from around 50 countries, are staying cool-headed amid the speculation.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

“I associated boyhood with cool-headed stoicism, rugged self-reliance, the freedom to live on my own terms,” Bossier writes in “Cactus Country,” their bracing memoir about the experience.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024

In a rare moment of frustration for the cool-headed judge, Davis advised Fox attorneys against making him "look like an idiot."

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2023

He was competitive and cool-headed, focused and serious, but quick with a joke to cut the tension.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin