frizzy

IPA/ˈfrɪzi/
IPA/ˈfrɪzi/

frizzy — adjective

  • frizzypositive
  • frizziercomparative
  • frizziestsuperlative

1. used for hair that puffs out in many small curls and will not lie neatly.

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

used for hair that puffs out in many small curls and will not lie neatly.

Example

Before the concert, Samir used hair oil to calm his frizzy hair.

frizzy hair + hair-care context

Nadia tied her frizzy hair back after the rainy walk to school.

frizzy hair after damp weather

Common collocations
  • frizzy hair
  • frizzy curls
  • get frizzy
  • look frizzy
  • frizzy ends
Synonyms
  • curly

    more neutral; curly only means hair forms curls, while frizzy suggests a rough, puffed-out look

  • bushy

    focuses on fullness or thickness rather than many loose curls

  • fuzzy

    can describe soft loose fibers; frizzy is the usual word for this hair texture

Antonyms
  • smooth

    used when hair lies flat and even

  • sleek

    stronger opposite; suggests a polished, controlled look

  • straight

    describes hair shape rather than texture, but contrasts with tight frizz

Grammar Patterns

frizzy hair

hair looks frizzy

hair gets frizzy in humid weather

Usage Note

Usually describes hair, especially when damp air or dryness makes it spread outward. It commonly appears with the noun 'hair' and after linking verbs such as 'be', 'look', and 'get'.

Common Mistakes

The room looked frizzy after the party.
The room looked messy after the party.
'frizzy' is mainly used for hair, not for a generally untidy place.

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all describe how hair looks, but they do not point to the same texture. 'Frizzy' is used when the hair spreads outward in many rough small curls and looks hard to control, often because of humidity or dryness. 'Curly' is broader and can be neat or attractive, without the rough feeling. 'Wavy' suggests softer bends rather than tight lifted strands. 'Bushy' focuses on fullness and thickness, especially over a larger area, and does not always imply curl.

frizzy ↗curly ↗wavy ↗bushy ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • get frizzy
  • look frizzy

Etymology

First known use

1864

1864, in the meaning defined above