Cold weather is something we all experience, whether it’s the crisp chill of a winter morning or the biting wind of a stormy night. When the temperature drops, it can feel refreshing, cozy, or even painfully sharp. But sometimes, it’s tricky to capture exactly how cold it feels. That’s where similes can be a big help. Similes use the words “like” or “as” to compare one thing to another, making it easier to show the intensity and sensation of cold weather.
In this article, we’ll dive into different similes for cold weather. Each simile paints a clear picture of just how icy, brisk, or bone-chilling it can get. You’ll also get a chance to practice using these similes yourself. By the end of this post, you’ll have a big collection of ways to talk about the cold like a true wordsmith!
Similes for Cold Weather
1. Cold as ice
Meaning: Extremely cold to the touch or feeling.
In a Sentence: My hands were as cold as ice after walking home without gloves.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing cold, Icy cold
2. Cold as a snowman’s nose
Meaning: Icy and frosty, like a snowman’s carrot nose.
In a Sentence: Her cheeks were cold as a snowman’s nose after sledding all afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Frosty, Chilly to the touch
3. Cold as the North Pole
Meaning: As freezing as the Arctic regions.
In a Sentence: It felt cold as the North Pole when the power went out during the storm.
Other Ways to Say: Polar cold, Arctic chill
4. Cold as a metal pole in winter
Meaning: Extremely cold and painful to touch, like frozen metal.
In a Sentence: The steering wheel was cold as a metal pole in winter this morning.
Other Ways to Say: Bitter cold, Ice-cold grip
5. Cold as a frozen pond
Meaning: Very cold and still, like water frozen solid.
In a Sentence: The air was cold as a frozen pond as we hiked through the woods.
Other Ways to Say: Still and cold, Frozen solid
6. Cold as a penguin’s toes
Meaning: Freezing and uncomfortable.
In a Sentence: My feet were cold as a penguin’s toes after standing outside waiting for the bus.
Other Ways to Say: Numb with cold, Frozen stiff
7. Cold as a winter grave
Meaning: Extremely cold with a chilling sense of stillness.
In a Sentence: The abandoned house was cold as a winter grave inside.
Other Ways to Say: Deathly cold, Spine-chilling cold
8. Cold as frost on a windowpane
Meaning: Delicately and sharply cold.
In a Sentence: The morning air was cold as frost on a windowpane when I stepped outside.
Other Ways to Say: Frosty, Crisp and cold
9. Cold as a witch’s heart
Meaning: Very cold, often with a hint of cruel sharpness.
In a Sentence: The wind was cold as a witch’s heart as it whipped around the mountain.
Other Ways to Say: Ruthlessly cold, Piercing chill
10. Cold as the dark side of the moon
Meaning: Extremely cold, beyond human comfort.
In a Sentence: The desert at night was cold as the dark side of the moon.
Other Ways to Say: Frigid, Biting cold
11. Cold as a forgotten cup of coffee
Meaning: Unpleasantly cold and abandoned.
In a Sentence: My bathwater was cold as a forgotten cup of coffee after I got distracted.
Other Ways to Say: Left out cold, Chilly and stale
12. Cold as a snake’s skin
Meaning: Icy cold and slick to the touch.
In a Sentence: The leather seat was cold as a snake’s skin when I sat down.
Other Ways to Say: Slippery and cold, Uncomfortably chilly
13. Cold as marble
Meaning: Smooth and freezing to the touch.
In a Sentence: The stone steps were cold as marble when I walked barefoot across them.
Other Ways to Say: Stone cold, Hard and freezing
14. Cold as mountain air
Meaning: Fresh, crisp, and freezing.
In a Sentence: The morning breeze was cold as mountain air on our camping trip.
Other Ways to Say: Brisk and sharp, Cool as a summit wind
15. Cold as an empty fireplace
Meaning: Lacking warmth and comfort.
In a Sentence: The cabin was cold as an empty fireplace until we got the fire going.
Other Ways to Say: Lifeless cold, Hollow chill
16. Cold as the bottom of a well
Meaning: Deep, still, and chillingly cold.
In a Sentence: The basement felt cold as the bottom of a well during the winter storm.
Other Ways to Say: Deep cold, Chilling depths
17. Cold as a freezer full of ice
Meaning: Intensely cold and biting.
In a Sentence: My fingers were cold as a freezer full of ice after snowball fights.
Other Ways to Say: Freezing to the bone, Icy numbness
18. Cold as an icicle
Meaning: Sharp, pointed, and freezing.
In a Sentence: Her nose was cold as an icicle after walking through the blizzard.
Other Ways to Say: Frostbitten, Pointy cold
19. Cold as the ocean in December
Meaning: Shockingly freezing and harsh.
In a Sentence: The lake water felt cold as the ocean in December when I dipped my toes in.
Other Ways to Say: Wintery chill, Harshly cold
20. Cold as snow on bare skin
Meaning: Uncomfortably freezing to the touch.
In a Sentence: My arms were cold as snow on bare skin when my coat got soaked.
Other Ways to Say: Icy sensation, Shocking cold
21. Cold as a glacier
Meaning: Massive, unmoving, and extremely cold.
In a Sentence: The hallway at school was cold as a glacier before the heaters kicked in.
Other Ways to Say: Arctic blast, Mountainous cold
22. Cold as the tips of your ears in January
Meaning: Sharp and painful cold in small places.
In a Sentence: My toes were cold as the tips of your ears in January during the football game.
Other Ways to Say: Stinging cold, Biting frost
23. Cold as frozen steel
Meaning: Hard, metallic, and bitterly cold.
In a Sentence: The park bench was cold as frozen steel when we sat down to rest.
Other Ways to Say: Metallic chill, Unforgiving cold
24. Cold as a graveyard at midnight
Meaning: Bone-chilling and eerily cold.
In a Sentence: The deserted alley was cold as a graveyard at midnight.
Other Ways to Say: Ghostly cold, Deathly chill
25. Cold as the inside of a refrigerator
Meaning: Chilling and constant coldness.
In a Sentence: My office was cold as the inside of a refrigerator all day long.
Other Ways to Say: Constant chill, Everyday cold
26. Cold as a stone in winter
Meaning: Hard and icy cold.
In a Sentence: The garden bench was cold as a stone in winter when I touched it.
Other Ways to Say: Solid cold, Stone-cold touch
27. Cold as midnight frost
Meaning: Crisp, icy, and very cold.
In a Sentence: The air was cold as midnight frost as we waited for the fireworks.
Other Ways to Say: Sparkling chill, Late-night freeze
28. Cold as a brass doorknob in January
Meaning: Shockingly cold and uncomfortable.
In a Sentence: The brass doorknob was cold as a brass doorknob in January when I grabbed it barehanded.
Other Ways to Say: Metallic sting, Bitter metal cold
29. Cold as a blizzard’s breath
Meaning: Fierce, fast, and cutting cold.
In a Sentence: The wind was cold as a blizzard’s breath against my cheeks.
Other Ways to Say: Stormy chill, Cutting cold
30. Cold as a snowflake’s kiss
Meaning: Soft yet biting cold.
In a Sentence: The falling snow felt cold as a snowflake’s kiss on my forehead.
Other Ways to Say: Gentle cold, Delicate frost
31. Cold as a shadow at twilight
Meaning: Chilling and quiet cold.
In a Sentence: The garden was cold as a shadow at twilight after the sun disappeared.
Other Ways to Say: Dusky chill, Fading warmth
32. Cold as a whisper in the dark
Meaning: Soft but piercing coldness.
In a Sentence: The draft through the window was cold as a whisper in the dark.
Other Ways to Say: Sneaky chill, Soft sting
33. Cold as a snowdrift
Meaning: Deep and heavy cold.
In a Sentence: The path was blocked by snow cold as a snowdrift.
Other Ways to Say: Heavy cold, Packed frost
34. Cold as the underside of a pillow in winter
Meaning: Surprising and refreshing cold.
In a Sentence: The sheets were cold as the underside of a pillow in winter.
Other Ways to Say: Refreshing chill, Quick coldness
35. Cold as the crack of dawn in February
Meaning: Sharp, fresh, and bitter cold.
In a Sentence: The air was cold as the crack of dawn in February when I stepped outside.
Other Ways to Say: Early morning chill, Fresh bite of winter
36. Cold as a cat’s nose
Meaning: Cool and damp, but still a little sharp.
In a Sentence: Her fingertips were cold as a cat’s nose after walking through the snow.
Other Ways to Say: Damp cold, Soft chill
37. Cold as a cloudless night
Meaning: Bitterly cold with nothing to block the chill.
In a Sentence: The desert was cold as a cloudless night once the sun set.
Other Ways to Say: Open sky chill, Piercing night cold
38. Cold as a tombstone
Meaning: Hard, unyielding, and deathly cold.
In a Sentence: The memorial bench was cold as a tombstone when I brushed off the snow.
Other Ways to Say: Grave cold, Stone-deep chill
39. Cold as the kiss of winter
Meaning: Sharp yet strangely beautiful cold.
In a Sentence: The breeze was cold as the kiss of winter on my face.
Other Ways to Say: Winter’s touch, Crisp winter chill
40. Cold as the outer space
Meaning: Extremely cold and unreachable.
In a Sentence: The wind felt cold as the outer space during the midnight storm.
Other Ways to Say: Cosmic cold, Infinite chill
41. Cold as a lonely cabin in the woods
Meaning: Isolated, silent, and icy cold.
In a Sentence: The abandoned cottage was cold as a lonely cabin in the woods.
Other Ways to Say: Deserted cold, Isolated chill
42. Cold as a polar bear’s nose
Meaning: Extremely cold and slightly damp.
In a Sentence: His hand was cold as a polar bear’s nose after the snowball fight.
Other Ways to Say: Arctic chill, Frosty touch
43. Cold as a shadow crossing your skin
Meaning: Quick and unexpected coldness.
In a Sentence: A draft slipped in and felt cold as a shadow crossing my skin.
Other Ways to Say: Slippery chill, Passing cold
44. Cold as an abandoned ship
Meaning: Empty, lonely, and freezing.
In a Sentence: The empty barn was cold as an abandoned ship in winter.
Other Ways to Say: Deserted and cold, Chilling emptiness
45. Cold as a winter’s whisper
Meaning: Soft but deeply chilling.
In a Sentence: The sound of the trees was cold as a winter’s whisper in the night.
Other Ways to Say: Soft chill, Ghostly cold
46. Cold as a frosted window
Meaning: Covered in delicate, icy coldness.
In a Sentence: The windshield was cold as a frosted window after the blizzard.
Other Ways to Say: Iced over, Covered in frost
47. Cold as the wind atop a mountain
Meaning: Fierce and powerful cold.
In a Sentence: The breeze was cold as the wind atop a mountain when we reached the summit.
Other Ways to Say: Gale-force chill, Mighty cold
48. Cold as forgotten mittens
Meaning: Slightly sad, freezing cold.
In a Sentence: My backpack was cold as forgotten mittens after a long day outside.
Other Ways to Say: Left-behind chill, Forgotten cold
49. Cold as the last light of dusk
Meaning: Gently fading and chilly.
In a Sentence: The evening air was cold as the last light of dusk.
Other Ways to Say: Fading warmth, Twilight chill
50. Cold as midnight snow
Meaning: Deep, soft, and numbing cold.
In a Sentence: The fresh snowfall was cold as midnight snow when I stepped outside.
Other Ways to Say: Silent freeze, Night snow chill
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- My toes were as cold as a _______ after walking barefoot on the frozen ground.
- The wind felt cold as a _______ when it blew through the trees.
- My breath came out like fog, and my nose was cold as a _______.
- The room was as cold as an _______ when the heater broke down.
- His handshake was cold as a _______ after hours in the snow.
- After waiting for the bus in the snowstorm, I felt cold as _______.
- The abandoned house was as cold as a _______.
- When the sun went down, the backyard felt cold as a _______ night.
- My backpack felt cold as _______ when I grabbed it off the snowy ground.
- The gust of wind against my face was as cold as a _______.
- She touched the metal railing and it was as cold as _______.
- The late autumn evening was as cold as a _______ kiss.
Answers
ice, blizzard’s breath, cat’s nose, empty refrigerator, polar bear’s nose, midnight snow, tombstone, cloudless, forgotten mittens, shadow crossing skin, frozen steel, winter’s whisper
Conclusion
Similes make describing cold weather much more vivid and exciting. Whether you’re talking about icy fingers, frozen fields, or a whispering winter breeze, similes help paint strong pictures that everyone can feel. Next time you want to describe a chilly moment, just remember one of these comparisons to make your writing come alive with frosty feeling. Keep practicing, and you’ll be able to capture the chill of any winter day in no time!
