: gravely disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chilling
2 of 2present participle of chill entry 3
Examples of chilling in a Sentence
Adjective
a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter
Recent Examples on the Web
Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2025
The immigration crackdown by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has had a chilling effect on daily life.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Dec. 2025
The actress first turned heads in movies like The World According to Garp (1982) and The Natural (1984), then scared the bejesus out of unfaithful men everywhere with her chilling turn in Fatal Attraction (1987).
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
These trends have a chilling effect.
—Gary Locke, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chilling
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Adjective
Now its impending sale is creating an environment where press advocates warn the president or other critics in the administration can more easily send a chilling message.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2025
The immigration crackdown by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has had a chilling effect on daily life.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Dec. 2025
The actress first turned heads in movies like The World According to Garp (1982) and The Natural (1984), then scared the bejesus out of unfaithful men everywhere with her chilling turn in Fatal Attraction (1987).
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
These trends have a chilling effect.
—Gary Locke, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chilling
Cite this Entry
“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilling. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chilling
adjective
chill·ing
ˈchil-iŋ 
: very disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chillingly
adverb
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