as in sticks
a cold aloof person
his wife is such an icicle you're lucky to get so much as a greeting from her
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Recent Examples of icicles
Some customers complain about large icicles and ice dams forming in the winter where there weren’t issues previously, which makes some homeowners question how well the system actually collects runoff.
—
Dan Simms, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
The icicles that the Barton Family shared with us are much different.
—Ray Petelin, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
This, coupled with too many icicles, can pose safety risks, especially if they’re clustered around high-traffic areas like entryways and walkways.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026
Shouldered by sandstone cliffs, these caves in Bayfield, Wisconsin, form when water—and, notably, waves—that would normally flow through the sandstone freezes instead, birthing icicles, columns, and curtains.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026
Large Icicles Large icicles or ice buildup along your home’s eaves signal trapped, melting water that can run into your home and damage walls, ceilings, and insulation.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
When this occurs, the snow on the roof melts and refreezes, creating icicles and ice dams on the roof and eaves.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
Large icicles are a sign of ice dams on a home.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
Dan Simms, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
The icicles that the Barton Family shared with us are much different.
—Ray Petelin, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
This, coupled with too many icicles, can pose safety risks, especially if they’re clustered around high-traffic areas like entryways and walkways.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026
Shouldered by sandstone cliffs, these caves in Bayfield, Wisconsin, form when water—and, notably, waves—that would normally flow through the sandstone freezes instead, birthing icicles, columns, and curtains.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026
Large Icicles Large icicles or ice buildup along your home’s eaves signal trapped, melting water that can run into your home and damage walls, ceilings, and insulation.
—Molly Burford, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
When this occurs, the snow on the roof melts and refreezes, creating icicles and ice dams on the roof and eaves.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026
Large icicles are a sign of ice dams on a home.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for icicles
Noun
-
Other proposals floated over the decades included towing icebergs from Alaska or Antarctica, diverting rivers from the rainy Pacific Northwest or even piping Great Lakes water thousands of miles west across the Continental Divide.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The hazards of glacial lakes Glacial lakes, often the color of aquamarine gems and sparkling with icebergs, are common around the margins of glaciers around the world.—
Dan McGrath,
The Conversation,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The outbreak was then linked to raw oysters harvested by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, and Manila clams harvested by Lummi Indian Business Council.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Arsenic spikes in New Zealand’s Waikato River were blamed on invasive clams, and recent Houthi attacks in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait indirectly caused a shift in oceanic cloud formation.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Icicles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/icicles. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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