cosier

IPA/ˈkəʊ.zi/
IPA/ˈkoʊ.zi/

cosier — adjective

  • cosierpositive
  • cosierercomparative
  • cosierestsuperlative

1. more comfortable and pleasant to be in, especially because a room or space is sm

1.形容詞B1
釋義

more comfortable and pleasant to be in, especially because a room or space is small, warm, and feels sheltered.

例句

Bao thought the attic room was much cosier after he hung the thick curtains.

With the fire burning and rain on the roof, the cottage felt cosier than ever.

collocation: feel + cosy/cosier

同義詞
  • snugger

    more common in British English for small, tightly enclosed spaces

  • warmer

    focuses on temperature rather than overall atmosphere

  • more comfortable

    broader; can describe furniture or physical ease

反義詞
  • chillier

    opposite in warmth and atmosphere

用法筆記

Frequently used with verbs like feel, make, become. The sense almost always describes a physical indoor space.

常見錯誤

❌I felt cosier in my new jacket.
✅I felt warmer in my new jacket.
💡cosy describes a place or atmosphere, not clothing, unless the clothing creates an overall feeling of snugness.

2. more like a gentle crime story that avoids violence, blood, or explicit content,

2.形容詞C1
釋義

more like a gentle crime story that avoids violence, blood, or explicit content, often set in a small community.

例句

Quan prefers mysteries that are cosier than the average thriller — village settings, no crime-scene photos.

comparative structure: cosier than [something]

Heloísa picked a cosier novel — a seaside hotel story with a missing recipe.

同義詞
  • milder

    focuses on lack of violence rather than genre label

  • gentler

    emphasises the soothing tone of the story

  • lighter

    suggests less emotional weight

反義詞
  • more hardboiled

    opposite end of the crime-fiction spectrum — gritty, violent, urban

用法筆記

Common in book reviews and genre discussion. The base form cosy is also used attributively (a cosy mystery). Cosier appears in comparative reviews.

3. more convenient or mutually beneficial in a way that suggests possible dishonest

3.形容詞C1
釋義

more convenient or mutually beneficial in a way that suggests possible dishonesty, secrecy, or a lack of proper boundaries.

例句

The deal between the board members looked cosier the longer it stayed hidden from shareholders.

collocation: look + cosy/cosier (pejorative)

Zola grew uneasy as her manager's friendship with the supplier grew cosier each month.

同義詞
  • more questionable

    focuses on the ethical dimension rather than the social closeness

  • more collusive

    stronger and more legal; suggests active conspiracy

  • closer

    neutral; needs context to carry the pejorative meaning

反義詞

用法筆記

Almost always pejorative. Often appears with look, become, grow followed by too + cosy to emphasise the speaker's disapproval. The noun arrangement, deal, relationship, or friendship is typically the subject.

常見錯誤

❌Their business was cosy and warm.
✅Their business arrangement was far too cosy for an independent audit.
💡this sense is negative; don't confuse with sense 1 (physical comfort).