wintry

/ˈwɪntri/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɪntri] /ˈwɪntri/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɪntri] /ˈwin-trē How to pronounce wintry (audio)/ (ame, mw)

wintry — adjective

  • wintrypositive
  • wintriercomparative
  • wintriestsuperlative

1. having the cold temperatures, falling snow, grey skies, or stormy weather that p

1.形容詞B1
釋義

having the cold temperatures, falling snow, grey skies, or stormy weather that people expect in the winter season

例句

The hikers struggled through wintry conditions on the mountain trail near Daichi's village.

collocation: wintry conditions

A wintry wind swept across the empty parking lot as Layla locked her car.

collocation: wintry wind

同義詞
  • cold

    broader and less specific — any low temperature, not necessarily winter-related

  • icy

    emphasises ice or freezing surfaces; can also be used figuratively

  • frosty

    focuses on frost or freezing air; more literary in tone

  • snowy

    specifically about snow cover, not necessarily cold air

反義詞
  • summery

    typical of the warm summer season

  • tropical

    hot and humid, opposite of winter cold

文法句型

wintry + noun (a wintry day / wintry conditions)

be + wintry (the weather was wintry)

用法筆記

Common in weather forecasts and descriptive writing about landscapes. The alternative spelling wintery exists but is much less frequent in published English.

常見錯誤

❌It was a wintry morning in July.
✅It was unusually cold in July.
💡Wintry implies the winter season or winter-like conditions; use 'cold' for unseasonably low temperatures.

2. showing a cold and unfriendly attitude, especially through a look, expression, o

2.形容詞B2
釋義

showing a cold and unfriendly attitude, especially through a look, expression, or tone that makes others feel unwelcome or rejected

例句

Antonia gave her colleague a wintry stare when he interrupted her presentation.

collocation: wintry stare

Vivek received a wintry welcome from the receptionist after arriving twenty minutes late.

collocation: wintry welcome

同義詞
  • frosty

    very similar in meaning and register; slightly more common in figurative use for behaviour

  • icy

    suggests deliberate coldness and emotional distance; more intense than wintry

  • chilly

    less strong — suggests polite distance rather than open unfriendliness

  • cold

    broader, less literary; can describe personality traits beyond momentary expressions

反義詞
  • warm

    friendly, welcoming, and kind in manner

  • cordial

    politely friendly and warm; more formal register

文法句型

wintry + noun (a wintry stare / wintry smile)

be + wintry (her tone was wintry)

用法筆記

Frequently modifies nouns related to facial expressions and greetings — stare, look, smile, welcome, tone, greeting. Predicative use (be + wintry) usually requires an intensifier such as so or very.

常見錯誤

❌The soup was wintry and I could not eat it.
✅The soup was cold and I could not eat it.
💡Wintry for unfriendly behaviour, not for food that is low in temperature.
❌She gave me a wintry handshake.
✅She gave me a wintry stare.
💡Wintry collocates with facial expressions and greetings, not with hand-related actions.