Skip to main content
subzero

subzero

5.5
Very cold in behavior, showing no warmth or friendliness
  • adjective
  • /sʌbˈziroʊ/
translation icon : frío
  • Her subzero attitude made it difficult for new employees to approach her.

Examples

  • The manager's subzero response left the team feeling discouraged.

  • Despite the celebration, his subzero expression never changed throughout the evening.

  • His subzero attitude made it difficult to work with him.

  • The meeting was filled with subzero tension.

  • Her subzero attitude made it difficult for new employees to approach her.

  • The manager's subzero response left the team feeling discouraged.

  • Despite the celebration, his subzero expression never changed throughout the evening.

Synonyms

icy
vssubzero
22 3.3

Cold and unfriendly in tone or manner

is more extreme and shows a total lack of warmth or emotion
chilly
vssubzero
16 3.5

Not friendly or warm toward other people

is much stronger and refers to extreme absence of warmth or emotion
cold as ice
vssubzero
  • Informal
4 7.2

Not showing any feeling or kindness to others

is about total emotional coldness rather than only lacking kindness
cold as a witch's kiss
vssubzero
  • Literature
9.9

Showing no warmth or feeling

is extremely lacking in warmth or friendliness in feeling
cold as charity
vssubzero
  • Archaic
9.9

Acting kind but not showing real care

is more extreme and stresses absolute absence of warmth or feeling
chil
vssubzero
  • Informal
9.9

Cold in manner and unfriendly to others

is stronger and means an extremely cold manner without warmth or sympathy

Antonyms

773 1.0

Kind and helpful toward other people

1 3.7

Kind and friendly to other people

How Warm

warm
280 1.0
reserved
3.7
cold
883 4.4
icy
22 3.3
subzero
5.5

Surface Forms

subzero positive

Morphology

subzero = zero (semi-transparent) = sub + zero

The adjective is a metaphorical extension from literal low temperature to cold manner/feeling, so the relation is clear but non-literal.

Etymology

Subzero for a cold personality comes from the same parts: sub- ('under') and zero ('0'). If something is 'under zero' it feels very cold, so subzero can describe a person who shows no warmth or friendliness.