Frigid describes something that is extremely cold in temperature. It can also describe a person or manner that seems very unfriendly or unemotional.
From Latin “frigidus” meaning “cold, chill,” from “frigere” (to be cold). It entered English through French and Latin scientific language.
Frigid isn’t just ‘cold’; it’s the kind of cold that makes your body tense up and your breath visible. When we call someone’s attitude frigid, we’re borrowing that physical reaction—you feel emotionally frozen around them.
“Frigid” has been used pejoratively, especially toward women, to label them as sexually unresponsive or cold, pathologizing women who did not conform to expected sexual availability. This framing tied women’s value to sexual receptivity.
Avoid using “frigid” to describe people’s sexual behavior or personality; reserve it for literal temperature or clearly metaphorical, non-gendered contexts.
["very cold","icy (literal or clearly metaphorical)"]
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