coldness
coldness — noun
1. behaviour towards other people that is distant, lacking in kindness, and without
behaviour towards other people that is distant, lacking in kindness, and without emotional warmth or affection.
The coldness in Aiko's voice showed she was still upset about the argument.
collocation: coldness in [someone's] voice / tone
Diego could never get used to the coldness of his new colleagues at the bank.
After months of coldness between them, Wen and his brother finally talked things through.
collocation: coldness between [people]
The coldness of the landlord's reply when Yara asked for repairs left her frustrated.
coldness of [someone's] reply / response
Ravi found the coldness in his farewell letter harder to bear than the breakup itself.
- coldness in + (voice / tone / eyes / manner)
- coldness between + (people / neighbours / colleagues / siblings)
- coldness of + (reply / response / attitude / farewell / letter / look)
- coldness towards + (someone)
- aloofness
physical or emotional distance; often suggests a deliberate choice to stay apart
- reserve
more neutral than coldness; can indicate shyness or a quiet personality rather than unfriendliness
- remoteness
inaccessibility; suggests the other person is hard to reach emotionally
- frostiness
a sharp, cold manner that communicates displeasure; more intense than coldness
- warmth
the opposite quality of showing kindness, affection, and emotional openness
- friendliness
actively pleasant and welcoming behaviour
Grammar Patterns
possessive + coldness
the coldness of + noun phrase
Usage Note
Frequently appears with possessive determiners (her coldness, their coldness) or the of-construction (the coldness of his tone). The prepositional phrases that commonly follow are towards (a person) and between (two or more people). This sense differs from hostility in that it describes the absence of warmth rather than active aggression.
2. the condition of being at a low temperature, or the bodily sensation that comes
the condition of being at a low temperature, or the bodily sensation that comes from being in a chilly environment or touching something cool.
The coldness of the water surprised Tomás when he jumped into the lake.
collocation: coldness of [water / air / room]
Hana wrapped herself in a blanket against the coldness of the early morning air.
The coldness of the marble floor made the children run to put on their socks.
collocation: coldness of [material / surface]
Kofi could feel the coldness of the metal railing through his thin gloves.
The sudden coldness in the room made Noa reach for a second jumper.
- coldness of + (water / air / room / floor / metal / stone / marble / railing)
- coldness in + (the air / the room / the morning / the water)
Grammar Patterns
the coldness of + noun phrase
Usage Note
In everyday speech, the simple noun cold is far more common than coldness for temperatures (e.g. the cold of winter, the cold outside). Coldness is more typical in written descriptions and when focus is on a specific object's or substance's low temperature (the coldness of the metal, the coldness of the water).