adjective
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made of, covered with, or containing ice
-
resembling ice
-
freezing or very cold
-
cold or reserved in manner; aloof
Etymology
Origin of icy
before 900; Middle English isy, Old English īsig. See ice, -y 1
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.
New Zealand also said it would buy extra-long-range Airbus A321s, which will be able to fly a round trip to Antarctica without landing—a key capability if icy conditions make landing there impossible.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
A polar bear cub travels the icy Svalbard coast with its mother.
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026
During President Obama’s first term, when the U.S. and Cuba initially made attempts to thaw our icy relationship, I visited the island country as part of an educational delegation.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026
On icy moons, water and ice play that same role.
From Science Daily • Mar. 2, 2026
In a flash, his entire demeanor changed from calm and friendly to icy and dangerous.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
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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.