Describing Temperature: English Vocabulary List

extremely cold in temperature, often causing discomfort or numbness

"The water is frigid."

"The frigid water of the lake took his breath away when he jumped in and he immediately swam back to the shore shivering uncontrollably from the cold."

having a temperature reminiscent of ice

"The drink is icy-cold."

"The icy-cold lemonade was refreshing on the hot summer day and she drank two glasses without stopping because she was so thirsty from working in the garden."

causing a feeling of extreme cold

"The cold is bone-chilling."

"The bone-chilling cold seeped through his coat and he regretted not wearing a warmer jacket as he waited for the bus in the dark winter morning."

exhibiting characteristics typical of winter, often referring to cold and chilly conditions

"The weather is wintry."

"The wintry landscape was covered in snow and ice and the bare trees looked like black skeletons against the gray sky on that cold December afternoon."

having below zero degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit

"The temperature is sub-zero."

"The sub-zero temperatures caused the pipes in the old house to freeze and burst and the family had to move to a hotel while the damage was repaired."

(of weather) uncomfortably hot and lacking air circulation

"The heat is stifling."

"The stifling heat in the small apartment made it difficult to breathe and she opened all the windows but no breeze came to cool down the stuffy room."