sleety

Imagine a dreary winter day when the rain is not quite snow, but it feels like ice hitting your face. That is the kind of weather this word describes. It is used for weather with sleet or with rain mixed with small bits of ice. It is more than plain rain because the icy part makes it feel sharper, colder, and harder to ignore. A sleety wind or afternoon can cut right through your coat and send you looking for shelter.

“Sleety” describes weather that includes sleet or a mix of rain and small ice pellets. It is more than just cold rain. The word suggests wet, icy conditions that sting a little and make streets, coats, and windows feel raw and wintry. People often use it when the weather sits around the freezing point and the precipitation feels halfway between rain and snow.

You might read about a sleety morning, a sleety drizzle, or a sleety afternoon drive. The word helps create a clear picture of unpleasant winter weather, especially during in-between conditions when temperatures move above and below freezing. It has a narrative, descriptive feel and often appears in weather reports, fiction, and everyday conversation about harsh winter days.

In simple terms, if conditions are sleety, you should expect a cold, wet fall of precipitation with an icy edge. It is the sort of weather that makes walking unpleasant, roads slippery, and the whole day feel bleak.