Are you writing a harsh winter in your book? Do you need some words to describe winter ending in -ing? Take a look at the 10 below.
1. Biting
Definition
- Weather that is extremely cold and likely to cause pain.
- Severe and unpleasant.
Examples
“The biting winter air pierced through their coats, leaving their cheeks flushed and their breath visible in the frosty night.”
“The biting winter wind gnawed at their exposed skin, as they trudged through the snow-covered landscape.”
How it Adds Description
If you use the word “biting” to describe winter, it almost gives the season an animalistic or feral quality. Your reader can easily envisage the winter cold nipping at your characters like a dog, causing discomfort, and making them wish that they were inside wrapped up warm.
2. Blanching
Definition
Turning pale.
Examples
“As winter descended upon the land, the once vibrant colors faded away, leaving behind a blanching, monochromatic landscape.”
“The blanching winter sunlight filtered through the bare branches, casting a pale, ethereal glow over the snow-covered scenery.”
How it Adds Description
Winter often washes the color out of landscapes and scenery, whether that be via a blanket of snow, the lack of bright light, or the fact that all of the colorful plant life has withered away. As a result, describing winter as “blanching” can make for a very bleak image, helping your reader to see how winter has sucked the life and joy away in your story.
3. Darkening
Definition
Becoming dark.
Examples
“With each passing day, the darkening winter enveloped the world, stretching its icy fingers to claw at more and more daylight hours.”
“As the days grew shorter and the nights grew longer, a palpable sense of melancholy settled upon the land, painting a somber picture of the darkening winter ahead.”
How it Adds Description
Describing winter as “darkening” emphasizes the gradual decrease in daylight hours and the overall dimming of the natural light during this season. This helps to create a somber atmosphere in your story and might signal a loss of hope or sadness in your characters.
4. Depressing
Definition
Making someone feel unhappy and hopeless.
Examples
“In the grip of a depressing winter, the bleak and lifeless surroundings mirrored the heaviness that settled in their hearts.”
“The oppressive weight of a depressing winter pressed upon their spirits, making them long for the verdant days of spring.”
How it Adds Description
Winter can often affect people’s moods, making them feel low or sad. The long nights and cold weather can make people feel hopeless. It could be that your character finds himself cooped up indoors or the lack of life outside in nature could be dampening their spirits. Using the word “depressing” helps to indicate this melancholy season to your reader.
5. Freezing
Definition
Examples
“The freezing winter covered everything in a delicate coat of ice, and even threatened to turn their lips into crystals.”
“The freezing winter held the land captive, causing even the hardiest of souls to seek refuge in the warmth of crackling fires and cozy blankets.”
How it Adds Description
If you need to describe the strong impact of the winter in your story, try describing it as being “freezing”. This shows how powerful the cold is, almost to the point of being dangerous. This creates a need for your characters to be cautious, and their actions may become more tentative as they hide away from winter’s icy grip.
6. Glistening
Definition
Shining by reflecting light off a smooth or wet surface.
Examples
“Under the soft glow of a glistening winter sun, the pristine snow-covered landscape sparkled like a sea of diamonds.”
“As daylight danced upon the frozen landscape, the glistening winter transformed the world into a shimmering tapestry of ice and snow.”
How it Adds Description
Describing winter as “glistening” evokes a sense of visual beauty and enchantment. It highlights the reflective quality of the snow and ice, emphasizing how they catch and scatter light, creating a radiant and sparkling effect much like jewels. This word choice adds a layer of magic and wonder to the winter setting for your reader, hopefully leaving them in awe.
7. Harrowing
Definition
Upsetting in a way that is connected to suffering.
Examples
“The long and harrowing winter took many souls from the village, whether it was the cold, or starvation from the poor harvest of the summer months.”
“In the harrowing winter’s icy clasp, the world became a barren and unforgiving wasteland, where bitter winds whispered haunting melodies and frostbite gnawed at exposed skin.”
How it Adds Description
Winter is often a perilous time of year and one that can cause suffering or loss, especially for those stories that are set in the past or within a fantasy realm. Describing the season as being “harrowing” helps your reader to be able to tap into the despair of your characters as they endure everything that winter has to throw at them.
8. Invigorating
Definition
Making someone feel healthy and energetic.
Examples
“In the embrace of an invigorating winter, the crisp air infused their lungs with a revitalizing chill, filling them with a thirst for adventure among the slopes.”
“Beneath the invigorating winter sun, the brisk breeze brushed against their cheeks like a wake-up call.”
How it Adds Description
Describing winter as “invigorating” highlights the energizing and refreshing aspects of the season. It almost acts like a wake-up call, with the cold air helping to spur your characters into action, creating a sense of excitement and liveliness for your reader.
9. Numbing
Definition
Making someone unable to feel something, either physically or emotionally.
Examples
“The numbing winter chill made them feel as though their bodies were not their own, as if they were piloting machines through the snow.”
“Not even the numbing bite of winter could break through her emotionless state, as the widow seemed almost unaware that the seasons had changed.”
How it Adds Description
“Numbing” highlights the discomfort and physical hardship, associated with winter. It can also symbolize the emotional or psychological numbness that people may feel due to the season. It helps your reader to start to empathize with your characters, urging them on to pull through the cold and out the other side.
10. Shivering
Definition
Shaking due to the cold.
Examples
“In the grip of a shivering winter, the icy winds whipped through the barren trees, causing them to tremble in unison.”
“The shivering winter settled over the land, casting a pervasive coldness that made even the hardiest souls quiver.”
How it Adds Description
Using the word “shivering” to describe winter adds a sense of movement to your writing to show how the season can move and affect not only your characters but also the landscape. It adds a sense of vulnerability and helps to show your reader just how powerless your characters are against this force of nature.