Meaning 1
Calm and self-controlled when pressure might provoke a hurried reaction.
Reach for it when praising composure in an informal, confident register
The goalkeeper stayed cool while the crowd disputed the final call.
Meaning 2
Stylishly impressive or socially appealing in a relaxed way.
Reach for it when giving casual approval to a person, object, or idea
The students built a cool reading lamp from salvaged bicycle parts.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| playful |
| |
| everyday |
| |
| professional | ||
| literary |
everyday
Fits when emotional steadiness is the exact point
Careful Calm lacks cool's informal hint of confidence or command.
professional
Fits when visible self-control deserves formal praise
Careful Composed sounds more deliberate and polished than naturally cool.
professional
Fits when sound judgment accompanies the calm
Careful Levelheaded claims good reasoning, while cool may only describe outward control.
literary
Fits when disruption fails to disturb the person
Careful This is too absolute if the person recovered quickly but did feel strain.
playful
Fits when enthusiastic informal approval is welcome
Careful Awesome is much more emphatic and gives the reader less precise information.
everyday
Fits when appearance or design is fashionably attractive
Careful Stylish misses approval of an idea, experience, or generous act.
professional
Fits when the quality earns respect without slang
Careful Impressive is stronger and may have nothing relaxed or fashionable about it.
stay cool
The medic reminded everyone to stay cool and follow the marked route.
cool under pressure
Mina was cool under pressure without becoming detached.
cool idea
A cool idea turned the unused wall into a seed library.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
Your browser isn't saving lists, so this one will be cleared when you leave the page.