Similes for cold bring vivid imagery to our everyday language, helping us describe shivers, chills, and frosty scenes with more color and emotion. Whether it’s the bitter air of winter or the icy touch of a forgotten drink, these comparisons make descriptions come alive.
Here are 30 expressive, creative, and easy-to-understand similes that capture the essence of cold each explained with meaning, usage, and other ways to say the same thing.
1. Cold as ice
Meaning: Describes something extremely cold, often emotionally or physically.
In a Sentence: Her hands were as cold as ice after walking without gloves.
Other Ways to Say: Cold as a freezer, chilly as a snowflake, frozen stiff.
2. Cold as a corpse
Meaning: Emphasizes a death-like, unnatural coldness, especially in touch.
In a Sentence: His handshake was as cold as a corpse, sending a chill up my spine.
Other Ways to Say: Cold as death, lifelessly cold, bone-chilling.
3. Cold as the Arctic
Meaning: Refers to a deep, expansive, and unrelenting kind of cold.
In a Sentence: The wind was cold as the Arctic, cutting right through my coat.
Other Ways to Say: Cold as the North Pole, freezing as Antarctica, bitter as polar wind.
4. Cold as steel
Meaning: Describes a sharp, metallic kind of coldness—both physical and emotional.
In a Sentence: Her glare was cold as steel, unfeeling and stern.
Other Ways to Say: Hard as iron, chilly as metal, cold-hearted.
5. Cold as a winter night
Meaning: A familiar kind of cold that evokes loneliness or silence.
In a Sentence: The room felt cold as a winter night, despite the fireplace.
Other Ways to Say: Still as a snowbound evening, frosty as twilight, chilly as midnight frost.
6. Cold as marble
Meaning: Highlights a cold that’s smooth, unchanging, and statuesque.
In a Sentence: Her skin was cold as marble under the moonlight.
Other Ways to Say: Cold as stone, frozen solid, icy to the touch.
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7. Cold as a witch’s kiss
Meaning: A playful or ominous description suggesting supernatural or magical chill.
In a Sentence: That draft was cold as a witch’s kiss—unexpected and eerie.
Other Ways to Say: Cold as a ghost’s breath, spooky as a tomb, cold as a shadow.
8. Cold as the grave
Meaning: A poetic and somber way of expressing deep, dead-like cold.
In a Sentence: The basement was cold as the grave and just as silent.
Other Ways to Say: Deathly cold, tomb-cold, chilling to the soul.
9. Cold as snow
Meaning: Simple and straightforward; refers to clean, crisp coldness.
In a Sentence: Her breath was visible, the air cold as snow.
Other Ways to Say: Snowy cold, frosty as a flurry, cool as powder.
10. Cold as frostbite
Meaning: Expresses an intense cold that causes pain or numbness.
In a Sentence: The wind was cold as frostbite—sharp and dangerous.
Other Ways to Say: Biting cold, stinging chill, freezing to the bone.
11. Cold as outer space
Meaning: Suggests an unimaginably distant and complete kind of cold.
In a Sentence: The silence and chill in the cave felt cold as outer space.
Other Ways to Say: Cosmic cold, vast as the vacuum, universe-chilled.
12. Cold as liquid nitrogen
Meaning: Scientific comparison, referencing extreme cold.
In a Sentence: That drink was cold as liquid nitrogen—almost painful.
Other Ways to Say: Ice-cold, cryo-cold, freezing like science lab gear.
13. Cold as the devil’s heart
Meaning: Figuratively refers to extreme emotional coldness or cruelty.
In a Sentence: His words were cold as the devil’s heart.
Other Ways to Say: Cruel as winter’s bite, heartless as ice, frozen soul.
14. Cold as midnight in December
Meaning: A poetic and time-specific way to express coldness.
In a Sentence: The air was cold as midnight in December—silent and still.
Other Ways to Say: Dark as a frosty night, still as snowfall, freezing as deep winter.
15. Cold as forgotten tea
Meaning: A domestic and relatable kind of unnoticed cold.
In a Sentence: I took a sip and grimaced—it was cold as forgotten tea.
Other Ways to Say: Stale cold, lukewarm and lifeless, cold as yesterday’s coffee.
16. Cold as an empty bed
Meaning: Conveys physical and emotional coldness—often loneliness.
In a Sentence: The sheets were cold as an empty bed.
Other Ways to Say: Lonely as a cold pillow, still as a sleepless night, emotionless as steel.
17. Cold as glass in winter
Meaning: Describes a sharp, clear coldness, often with touch imagery.
In a Sentence: Her fingers were cold as glass in winter.
Other Ways to Say: Smooth and icy, brittle cold, chill as a pane.
18. Cold as a snowman’s nose
Meaning: Whimsical and visual—brings imagery of snow and playfulness.
In a Sentence: His cheeks were red, and his nose cold as a snowman’s.
Other Ways to Say: Frosty as a carrot tip, childlike cold, snowy chill.
19. Cold as a cave
Meaning: Suggests a deep, dark, and unmoving kind of cold.
In a Sentence: The cellar was cold as a cave even in summer.
Other Ways to Say: Damp as stone, shadowy cold, earthy chill.
20. Cold as a banker’s heart
Meaning: Often used humorously or critically to imply emotional frigidity.
In a Sentence: His attitude was cold as a banker’s heart—strict and unyielding.
Other Ways to Say: Emotionless cold, hard-hearted, chill as capitalism.
21. Cold as a fish
Meaning: Slangy and used for someone emotionally unresponsive.
In a Sentence: Don’t expect warmth from her—she’s cold as a fish.
Other Ways to Say: Distant as ice, unfeeling, detached chill.
22. Cold as the moon
Meaning: Romantic or distant cold—beautiful but unreachable.
In a Sentence: Her stare was cold as the moon—bright but void of warmth.
Other Ways to Say: Moonlit cold, silver chill, glowing but frozen.
23. Cold as a refrigerator
Meaning: A familiar and domestic way to describe intense cold.
In a Sentence: That office was cold as a refrigerator.
Other Ways to Say: Fridge-cold, chill like leftovers, brisk as a freezer.
24. Cold as a stone wall
Meaning: Implies an unresponsive and rough kind of coldness.
In a Sentence: The cottage walls were cold as a stone wall.
Other Ways to Say: Rugged cold, wall-chilled, unforgivingly cool.
25. Cold as yesterday’s soup
Meaning: Everyday expression for bland, uninviting coldness.
In a Sentence: His enthusiasm was cold as yesterday’s soup.
Other Ways to Say: Tepid, dull chill, half-hearted cold.
26. Cold as a shadow
Meaning: Evokes quiet, creeping, unnoticed coldness.
In a Sentence: The corner of the room was cold as a shadow.
Other Ways to Say: Creeping chill, lurking cold, quiet freeze.
27. Cold as rejection
Meaning: Emotional coldness, particularly related to denial or heartbreak.
In a Sentence: The silence after his confession was cold as rejection.
Other Ways to Say: Heartbreaking chill, cold shoulder, emotional freeze.
28. Cold as the sea in winter
Meaning: Vast, biting, and unpredictable cold.
In a Sentence: Her stare was cold as the sea in winter.
Other Ways to Say: Ocean-deep chill, icy waves, cold as salt spray.
29. Cold as a forgotten grave
Meaning: A haunting and final sort of cold.
In a Sentence: The air was cold as a forgotten grave—still and sorrowful.
Other Ways to Say: Grave-cold, timeless chill, mournful frost.
30. Cold as morning dew in autumn
Meaning: A soft, natural coldness with a touch of melancholy.
In a Sentence: The bench was cold as morning dew in autumn.
Other Ways to Say: Dewy chill, crisp as dawn, soft cold.
MCQs Quiz: 30 Similes for Cold
1. What does the simile “cold as ice” primarily describe?
A) A frozen lake
B) An emotional or physical extreme cold
C) A cold drink
D) A snowstorm
Answer: B) An emotional or physical extreme cold
2. Which simile implies a death-like, unnatural coldness?
A) Cold as a witch’s kiss
B) Cold as marble
C) Cold as a corpse
D) Cold as morning dew
Answer: C) Cold as a corpse
3. What type of cold does “cold as the Arctic” refer to?
A) Localized, sharp cold
B) Emotional coldness
C) Expansive, relentless cold
D) Coldness caused by rain
Answer: C) Expansive, relentless cold
4. Which simile is often used to describe someone who is emotionally unresponsive?
A) Cold as outer space
B) Cold as a fish
C) Cold as snow
D) Cold as forgotten tea
Answer: B) Cold as a fish
5. What kind of feeling does “cold as a witch’s kiss” convey?
A) Warmth and affection
B) Silly and light-hearted
C) Supernatural or eerie cold
D) Scientific and measured
Answer: C) Supernatural or eerie cold
6. “Cold as the grave” is best used to describe:
A) A lively place
B) A deeply emotional conversation
C) A somber and chilling environment
D) A fresh snowfall
Answer: C) A somber and chilling environment
7. What does “cold as liquid nitrogen” emphasize?
A) Mild discomfort
B) Decorative cold
C) Playful coldness
D) Extremely intense and dangerous cold
Answer: D) Extremely intense and dangerous cold
8. “Cold as the sea in winter” is an example of:
A) A pleasant temperature
B) A stable and soothing cold
C) A vast, biting cold with emotional undertones
D) A type of summer breeze
Answer: C) A vast, biting cold with emotional undertones
9. Which simile would best describe an old, untouched part of a house?
A) Cold as forgotten tea
B) Cold as a cave
C) Cold as the devil’s heart
D) Cold as outer space
Answer: B) Cold as a cave
10. Which simile uses domestic imagery to describe coldness?
A) Cold as a snowman’s nose
B) Cold as a shadow
C) Cold as a refrigerator
D) Cold as the moon
Answer: C) Cold as a refrigerator
Conclusion
Similes for cold enhance language by painting vivid mental pictures of both physical and emotional sensations. Whether describing nature, human emotion, or everyday objects, these similes help convey mood, tone, and temperature with depth and creativity.
They range from poetic to humorous, eerie to scientific. Mastering them improves descriptive writing and enriches communication. From icy hands to frigid hearts, these comparisons keep your expression sharp and engaging.
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