33 Similes for Cold

Cold weather, chilly feelings, or icy experiences are often best expressed with vivid and imaginative comparisons. Similes are powerful tools to help convey the sharpness, stillness, or discomfort that comes with coldness. Whether you’re talking about a frigid winter day or the emotional chill caused by an uncomfortable situation, these similes will help you describe coldness in more colorful and engaging ways.

In this article, you’ll discover 33 similes for cold, each offering a unique way to describe cold temperatures, sensations, or feelings. These similes will help you express the physical and emotional effects of cold in a creative and descriptive way.

1. Cold as Ice

Meaning: Extremely cold, often used to describe something or someone that is emotionally distant or unfeeling.
In a Sentence:

The wind was as cold as ice, cutting through my jacket.
His response was as cold as ice, leaving no room for discussion.
Other Ways to Say: Frigid, icy, freezing

2. Cold as a Snowstorm

Meaning: Intense cold, often associated with harsh winter conditions.
In a Sentence:

The night air was as cold as a snowstorm, biting and relentless.
The reception was as cold as a snowstorm, with no one offering a greeting.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing, frigid, bitterly cold

3. Cold as a Frozen Lake

Meaning: A description of cold that conveys stillness and harshness.
In a Sentence:

The house felt as cold as a frozen lake after the heater broke.
Her gaze was as cold as a frozen lake, showing no emotion.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing, icy, chilling

4. Cold as a Tomb

Meaning: A very cold, lifeless, or chilling atmosphere, often evoking a sense of finality.
In a Sentence:

The room was as cold as a tomb, and it felt like the warmth had been sucked out of it.
His silence was as cold as a tomb, creating an uncomfortable tension.
Other Ways to Say: Unwelcoming, bleak, chilling

5. Cold as a Polar Bear’s Heart

Meaning: A heartless, unfeeling coldness, often used to describe a person’s emotionless demeanor.
In a Sentence:

He spoke with a voice as cold as a polar bear’s heart, showing no sympathy for her plight.
Her actions were as cold as a polar bear’s heart, leaving no room for forgiveness.
Other Ways to Say: Heartless, cold-hearted, indifferent

6. Cold as a Winter Night

Meaning: Very cold, often evoking the chill and stillness of a winter evening.
In a Sentence:

The wind was as cold as a winter night, biting and unforgiving.
The air outside was as cold as a winter night, with frost forming on everything in sight.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing, chilling, bone-numbing

7. Cold as a Frosted Window

Meaning: Extremely cold, especially when associated with the coldness one feels when touching a frosted surface.
In a Sentence:

Her hands were as cold as a frosted window, making it impossible to warm up.
The air inside the house was as cold as a frosted window, and we couldn’t shake the chill.
Other Ways to Say: Icy, frozen, biting cold

8. Cold as an Arctic Breeze

Meaning: Very cold, evoking the harsh, frigid winds from the Arctic region.
In a Sentence:

The breeze off the lake was as cold as an Arctic breeze, making it hard to stay outside for long.
His stare was as cold as an Arctic breeze, leaving her feeling uneasy.
Other Ways to Say: Frigid, polar, icy

9. Cold as Steel

Meaning: Hard and unfeeling, often used to describe something or someone that is emotionally detached or cold in nature.
In a Sentence:

His hands were as cold as steel, unaffected by the winter chill.
Her tone was as cold as steel, leaving no room for compassion.
Other Ways to Say: Unfeeling, heartless, emotionless

10. Cold as a Mountain Peak

Meaning: Extremely cold, especially when describing high-altitude environments.
In a Sentence:

The air at the summit was as cold as a mountain peak, freezing even the thickest layers of clothing.
The reception he received was as cold as a mountain peak, with no warmth or friendliness.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing, arctic, frigid

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11. Cold as a Glacier

Meaning: Extremely cold, evoking the icy, unyielding nature of glaciers.
In a Sentence:

The room felt as cold as a glacier, with an icy draft sweeping through the cracks.
His demeanor was as cold as a glacier, showing no emotion or warmth.
Other Ways to Say: Frigid, icy, unyielding

12. Cold as a Dead Body

Meaning: Very cold, often used to describe something lifeless or lacking warmth.
In a Sentence:

His hands were as cold as a dead body, making it hard to even shake his hand.
The atmosphere in the room was as cold as a dead body, filled with tension and silence.
Other Ways to Say: Lifeless, cold as death, stiff and cold

13. Cold as a Winter’s Breath

Meaning: Very cold, typically evoking the chill of winter air.
In a Sentence:

The wind outside was as cold as a winter’s breath, causing everyone to huddle together for warmth.
The room felt as cold as a winter’s breath, with no source of heat in sight.
Other Ways to Say: Chilly, biting, sharp cold

14. Cold as a Tomb

Meaning: A deep, lifeless cold, often used to describe an emotionally distant or deathly atmosphere.
In a Sentence:

The room was as cold as a tomb, with no signs of life or warmth.
Her heart felt as cold as a tomb after the betrayal.
Other Ways to Say: Deadly cold, lifeless, chilling

15. Cold as a Snowflake

Meaning: Delicate and cold, often used to describe the purity or quiet chill associated with snowflakes.
In a Sentence:

The air was as cold as a snowflake, crisp and clean, falling gently around us.
She gave him a look as cold as a snowflake, subtle but cutting.
Other Ways to Say: Icy, pure cold, frosty

16. Cold as a Witch’s Heart

Meaning: A person who is perceived as heartless or cruel, often used to describe an emotionally distant or unfeeling individual.
In a Sentence:

His response was as cold as a witch’s heart, showing no sympathy for her struggles.
She treated the entire situation with the coldness of a witch’s heart, not caring for the consequences.
Other Ways to Say: Heartless, unfeeling, cold-hearted

17. Cold as an Iceberg

Meaning: Extremely cold, especially in terms of emotional detachment or the perception of coldness beneath the surface.
In a Sentence:

His attitude was as cold as an iceberg, seemingly unaffected by the events happening around him.
The air in the room was as cold as an iceberg, with no warmth to be felt.
Other Ways to Say: Unemotional, distant, frigid

18. Cold as a Siberian Winter

Meaning: Extremely cold, referring to the frigid winters of Siberia, known for their harsh, freezing conditions.
In a Sentence:

The morning was as cold as a Siberian winter, with temperatures far below freezing.
The situation became as cold as a Siberian winter, with no one willing to budge.
Other Ways to Say: Intense cold, bitter cold, freezing

19. Cold as a Well

Meaning: Extremely cold, often used to describe a chilling, deep cold that emanates from a well or similar space.
In a Sentence:

The cellar was as cold as a well, sending shivers down my spine as I stepped inside.
His demeanor was as cold as a well, offering no warmth or kindness.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply cold, chilling, stark cold

20. Cold as a Polar Night

Meaning: Referring to the long, harsh, and cold nights in polar regions, this simile is used to describe an intense, unyielding cold.
In a Sentence:

The wind was as cold as a polar night, cutting through everything in its path.
The silence in the room was as cold as a polar night, frozen in time and unchanging.
Other Ways to Say: Extreme cold, freezing, harsh cold

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21. Cold as a Shiver

Meaning: Very cold, often used to describe the sharp, sudden coldness one might feel when shivering.
In a Sentence:

The air was as cold as a shiver, biting into my skin and making me curl up for warmth.
His touch was as cold as a shiver, sending a chill down my spine.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing, chilly, icy cold

22. Cold as a Winter’s Chill

Meaning: Cold in a way that feels sharp and penetrating, often associated with the early signs of winter.
In a Sentence:

The morning wind was as cold as a winter’s chill, cutting through my jacket.
His reception was as cold as a winter’s chill, making it clear that no warmth would be offered.
Other Ways to Say: Sharp cold, biting cold, frosty chill

23. Cold as a Frostbite

Meaning: An extremely painful cold, often linked with the dangerous and intense cold of frostbite.
In a Sentence:

The cold was as harsh as frostbite, numbing my fingers and toes.
His words were as cold as frostbite, leaving me frozen and speechless.
Other Ways to Say: Numbing, painful cold, extreme cold

24. Cold as an Ice Palace

Meaning: A cold that feels expansive and absolute, much like the chilling, vast expanse of an ice palace.
In a Sentence:

The mansion felt as cold as an ice palace, with its stone floors and frozen air.
The atmosphere in the room was as cold as an ice palace, no warmth or life to be found.
Other Ways to Say: Icy, lifeless, frigid

25. Cold as a Winter’s Breath

Meaning: Very cold, evoking the crisp, biting chill of winter air.
In a Sentence:

The wind was as cold as a winter’s breath, causing everyone to wrap up tighter.
Her attitude was as cold as a winter’s breath, sharp and uninviting.
Other Ways to Say: Crisp, biting cold, sharp chill

26. Cold as a Frozen River

Meaning: Extremely cold, often used to describe something cold and still, like the ice-covered surface of a river.
In a Sentence:

The floor was as cold as a frozen river, making it unbearable to walk barefoot.
His response was as cold as a frozen river, completely void of emotion.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing, still cold, arctic cold

27. Cold as a Winter’s Night

Meaning: Describes a night in winter when temperatures drop significantly, often associated with chill and stillness.
In a Sentence:

The night was as cold as a winter’s night, and no amount of blankets could warm me up.
The air outside was as cold as a winter’s night, with frost beginning to form on the grass.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing, frosty, icy cold

28. Cold as an Empty Heart

Meaning: Emotionally cold, devoid of warmth or compassion.
In a Sentence:

His attitude toward her was as cold as an empty heart, showing no concern for her feelings.
The relationship turned as cold as an empty heart, with no kindness left between them.
Other Ways to Say: Heartless, unfeeling, indifferent

29. Cold as a Snowfall

Meaning: Describing the quiet, chill of fresh snow, often symbolizing coldness with a sense of stillness.
In a Sentence:

The room was as cold as a snowfall, with an eerie silence hanging in the air.
Her demeanor was as cold as a snowfall, gentle but unyielding.
Other Ways to Say: Crisp cold, quiet chill, icy

30. Cold as a Desert Night

Meaning: Extremely cold, especially referring to the drop in temperature that often occurs in deserts at night.
In a Sentence:

The air outside was as cold as a desert night, a sharp contrast to the warm day.
His stare was as cold as a desert night, leaving me feeling uncomfortable and distant.
Other Ways to Say: Bitter cold, freezing, drastic temperature drop

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31. Cold as an Empty Room

Meaning: Describes a lack of warmth, either literally or metaphorically, often implying loneliness or detachment.
In a Sentence:

The office felt as cold as an empty room, with no one else around.
The conversation grew as cold as an empty room, with nothing left to say.
Other Ways to Say: Empty, lonely, devoid of warmth

32. Cold as a Dark Alley

Meaning: A chilling, unwelcoming atmosphere, often evoking fear or discomfort.
In a Sentence:

The hallway felt as cold as a dark alley, full of shadows and eerie silence.
His voice was as cold as a dark alley, making her feel uneasy and uncertain.
Other Ways to Say: Unwelcoming, eerie, unsettling

33. Cold as a Steel Door

Meaning: Strong, unfeeling, and unyielding, often used to describe someone who is tough and emotionally distant.
In a Sentence:

His expression was as cold as a steel door, impenetrable and hard to read.
The situation became as cold as a steel door, with no room for compromise or discussion.
Other Ways to Say: Hard, unfeeling, impenetrable

Practice Exercise

The wind was so sharp it was ____________, biting into my skin.
After the breakup, his words were ____________, devoid of any warmth.
The house felt ____________, with the heater broken for days.
Her gaze was ____________, making me feel like an outsider.
As the storm raged outside, the temperature dropped to ____________.
The room felt ____________, silent and cold as if no one had lived there in years.
The mountain air was ____________, freezing and crisp against my face.
His attitude toward the situation was ____________, harsh and unyielding.
The silence in the meeting was ____________, making everyone uncomfortable.
After hours in the snow, my fingers were ____________.
The street was ____________ as I walked through the icy wind, feeling the chill.
The conversation ended as ____________, leaving no more room for discussion.
Her heart felt ____________, completely unyielding to my efforts.
The house was as ____________ as the frozen lake outside, without any warmth.
The stare she gave me was ____________, cutting through me like a blade.

Answer Key

a) Cold as Ice
e) Cold as a Polar Bear’s Heart
p) Cold as a Frosted Window
k) Cold as a Witch’s Heart
d) Cold as a Snowstorm
f) Cold as a Tomb
j) Cold as a Mountain Peak
i) Cold as Steel
r) Cold as a Shiver
u) Cold as Frostbite
n) Cold as a Winter’s Chill
f) Cold as a Tomb
k) Cold as a Witch’s Heart
h) Cold as a Frozen River
g) Cold as a Snowflake

Conclusion

Coldness is more than just a temperature; it’s a feeling, an atmosphere, and an experience that can be expressed in many different ways. Similes for cold allow us to vividly capture the chill of a winter day, the emotional detachment of an individual, or the stark, biting nature of an environment. Whether describing the intense cold of a frozen lake or the unfeeling nature of a heart colder than steel, these similes help us communicate the sensation of coldness in both physical and emotional contexts.

Through these 33 similes, you can express a wide range of cold experiences, from the literal chill of the weather to the emotional frost that can sometimes creep into relationships. These comparisons add color and depth to our language, making descriptions more engaging and relatable.

Next time you’re describing a cold day, a frosty demeanor, or even an emotional state of detachment, consider using one of these similes to enhance your expression and connect with your audience in a creative way.