frigid

adjective

frig·​id ˈfri-jəd 

1

a

: intensely cold

frigid water

b

: lacking warmth or ardor : indifferent

had an emotionally frigid father

2

: lacking imaginative qualities : insipid

writing precise and frigid poetry

3

a

: abnormally averse to sexual intercourse

—used especially of women

b

of a female : unable to achieve orgasm during sexual intercourse

frigidly adverb

frigidness noun

Synonyms

• icy
• chilly
• cold
• freezing
• chill
• cool

Examples of frigid in a Sentence

The frigid gusts of wind stung their faces.

She was born into an emotionally frigid family.

Recent Examples on the Web

Conditions were frigid, with wind chills of minus 50 degrees Celsius. —Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025

This year, the mood is openly frigid. —Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Using an ice chamber, the team froze mixtures of water, carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia to a bone-chilling –420 degrees Fahrenheit (-253 degrees Celsius), mimicking frigid conditions near the moon's surface. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025

The frigid air sliced through the open windows, bit the tips of my ears and my runny nose. —Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin frigidus, from frigēre to be cold; akin to Latin frigus frost, cold, Greek rhigos

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing frigid

• frigid zone

Rhymes for frigid

• rigid

Kids Definition

frigid

adjective

frig·​id ˈfrij-əd 

1

: freezing cold

2

: not friendly

a frigid stare

frigidity

frij-ˈid-ət-ē

noun

frigidly

ˈfrij-əd-lē

adverb

frigidness noun

Medical Definition

frigid

adjective

frig·​id ˈfrij-əd 

1

: lacking sexual desire : abnormally averse to sexual intercourse

—used especially of women

2

of a female : unable to achieve orgasm during sexual intercourse