cool 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkül How to pronounce cool (audio)
Definition of coolnext
1
as in distant
having or showing a lack of friendliness or interest in others the locals were cool towards outsiders the schoolmaster's cool manner did not encourage chitchat

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2
as in calm
free from emotional or mental agitation in a crisis keep a cool head, even if no one else is

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3
as in cold
having a low or subnormal temperature a cool basement that would be perfect for storing wine

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4
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling directed a cool glance at the student who was sneaking into class late

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5
as in stylish
slang being in the latest or current fashion had a cool new hairstyle

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6
as in downtown
slang keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments especially in fashion and entertainment a Greek island that's the current favorite of the cool crowd

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7
as in awesome
slang of the very best kind a really cool garage band that's starting to get some attention from the music industry

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cool

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to chill
to cause to lose heat cool your drinks in the icy mountain stream

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2
as in to hush
to become still and orderly after the recess, tempers had cooled, and we could have a civil, rational discussion

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cool

3 of 3

noun

1
as in detachment
the absence of emotional involvement the judge's customary cool stood her in good stead during the sensational trial

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2
as in fashionableness
the quality or state of being fashionable a designer who was the arbiter of cool

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3
as in composure
evenness of emotions or temper despite the flood of insults, the fledgling stand-up comic never lost his cool

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For
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a cool head
a rational head
a clear head
a fair-minded head
a steady head
a peaceful head
a cool breeze
a refreshing breeze
a crisp breeze
a fresh breeze
a brisk breeze
a lovely breeze
a cool drink
a chilled drink
an iced drink
an icy drink
a fresh-tasting drink
a frosty drink
a cool place
a popular place
a groovy place
an awesome place
a neat place
an interesting place
cool colors
pretty colors
unique colors
sick colors
funky colors
stylish colors

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cool different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of cool are collected, composed, imperturbable, nonchalant, and unruffled. While all these words mean "free from agitation or excitement," cool may imply calmness, deliberateness, or dispassionateness.

kept a cool head

Where would collected be a reasonable alternative to cool?

The words collected and cool can be used in similar contexts, but collected implies a concentration of mind that eliminates distractions especially in moments of crisis.

the nurse stayed calm and collected

When is composed a more appropriate choice than cool?

While in some cases nearly identical to cool, composed implies freedom from agitation as a result of self-discipline or a sedate disposition.

the composed pianist gave a flawless concert

When can imperturbable be used instead of cool?

Although the words imperturbable and cool have much in common, imperturbable implies coolness or assurance even under severe provocation.

the speaker remained imperturbable despite the heckling

When is it sensible to use nonchalant instead of cool?

The meanings of nonchalant and cool largely overlap; however, nonchalant stresses an easy coolness of manner or casualness that suggests indifference or unconcern.

a nonchalant driver

When might unruffled be a better fit than cool?

In some situations, the words unruffled and cool are roughly equivalent. However, unruffled suggests apparent serenity and poise in the face of setbacks or in the midst of excitement.

harried but unruffled

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cool
Adjective
Wayfair Sleep Cooling Down-Alternative Gel Fiber Bed Pillow Set Stop flipping pillows for a cool spot and swap in these gel fiber ones. —Ali Faccenda, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025 The retro cool of the bar matches the retro cool of the building, which makes sense: Nostalgia is a primary ingredient of Pier Top’s appeal. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
Data centers need large amounts of water to cool servers and other components. —Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2025 Allow the cake to cool for at least 1 hour before slicing or serving. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
Johnson’s primary job as the Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee attacked him (and fellow Democratic Mayors Eric Adams of New York, Mike Johnston of Denver and Michelle Wu of Boston) was to keep his cool. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025 Sports Tennis: Andrey Rublev returns to Dubai, the scene of a low moment in which he was disqualified for losing his cool. —Emmett Lindner, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cool
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cool
  1. distant
  2. calm
  3. cold
  4. icy
  5. stylish
  6. downtown
  7. awesome
  8. chill
Adjective
  • To be clear: The consumer version of a psychiatric BCI like Inner Cosmos’ Digital Pill may be just as distant or hypothetical as any other BCI.
    — Naveen Rao, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Placing in a distant second was Trump Jr., with 12%.
    — Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of distant
Adjective
  • Tsunoda came into the weekend with fairly calm expectations, saying that a Q3 appearance and points return would be a good start.
    — Luke Smith, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The sulfur and salicylic acid calm things down without stripping my skin, and there’s even charcoal and bentonite clay to go even deeper and pull out gunk.
    — Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of calm
Adjective
  • This oral rinse provides relief from tooth pain and discomfort triggered by cold, heat, acids, sweets or contact.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Lopez has been seen out in New York a lot lately, and while the weather has been cold for spring, there’s still a lot going on for her, especially in the theatre world.
    — Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • Her makeup, too, was equally icy, with a metallic silvery-white shadow brushed under her brow as a highlight and dramatic black eyeliner winged all the way out to the outer corner of her brows, plus a pair of light blue-gray contacts enhanced by majorly fluttery, lush lashes.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 Dec. 2024
  • White cautioned those traveling north of Indianapolis this weekend, however, should be mindful of potentially snowier, icier road conditions.
    — Christopher Cann, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Nov. 2024
Definition of icy
Adjective
  • The exterior layout is stylish and functional that features a massive sundec and a killer beach club that allows guests easy access to the water.
    — Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Golf push carts are a stylish and convenient way to tote your clubs around the course with a wide array of features and storage.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of stylish
Adjective
  • Brian Hopkins, 2nd, whose ward includes Streeterville, responded by calling (not for the first time) for moving the existing 10 p.m. curfew for minors who are downtown without an accompanying adult back to 8 p.m.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
  • This spurred collectors to acquire some organs from movie theaters that were being closed or sold as people shifted from watching movies downtown to watching TV at home in the suburbs.
    — Heather Kathryn Ross, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of downtown
Adjective
  • Herro has been awesome this season, his first as an All-Star.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Weather conditions, though, are in the hands of Mother Nature — so hope for no rain, fog or haze that could negatively hinder the awesome view of the comet in the night.
    — Skyler Caruso, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of awesome
Verb
  • There's a step before planting strawberry seeds in soil: Seeds need to be chilled to improve germination.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2025
  • An early, brutal cold swept through the Interlake, chilling the earth before tens of thousands of snakes could reach the warmth of their underground dens.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of chill

Phrases Containing cool

Browse Nearby Words

cook (up)
cool
cool (down)
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Cite this Entry

“Cool.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cool. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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