glacial

adjective

gla·​cial ˈglā-shəl 

1

: suggestive of ice: such as

a

: extremely cold : frigid

a glacial wind

b

: devoid of warmth and cordiality

a glacial handshake

c

: coldly imperturbable

maintained a glacial calm

2

: of a purity marked by the tendency to readily solidify in the form of ice-like crystals

glacial acetic acid

3

a(1)

: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time from Precambrian onward when a much larger portion of the earth was covered by glaciers than at present

(2)

capitalized : pleistocene

b

: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers

c

: suggestive of the very slow movement of glaciers

progress on the bill has been glacial

glacially

ˈglā-shə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• algid
• arctic
• bitter
• bone-chilling
• chill
• chilly
• cold
• coldish
• cool
• coolish
• freezing
• frigid
• frosty
• gelid
• ice-cold
• icy
• nipping
• nippy
• numbing
• polar
• shivery
• snappy
• wintry
• wintery

Examples of glacial in a Sentence

Progress on the bill has been glacial.

a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend

Recent Examples on the Web

Low’s sound is solemn, sometimes glacial, with elliptical lyrics that often touch on questions of faith. —Justin Taylor, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024

Smallmouths thrive in the deep, clear, and cool waters often found in rocky highland reservoirs and glacial lakes. —Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 28 Mar. 2024

In the world of generative AI, security changes need to happen at warp speed, not a glacial pace. —Miles Ward, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024

In addition to its proximity to key minerals and an industrial work force, Mo i Rana also offers cheap and green electricity thanks to hydropower fueled by snow melt, glacial runoff and the waterfalls that cascade through its craggy mountains. —Ana Swanson Thomas Ekström, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024

His quartet’s plodding, reverb-rich ambiance evokes Low in a broad way, urgent and raw despite the glacial pace. —Dustin Nelson, SPIN, 1 Feb. 2024

Following a jury selection process that lasted nearly 10 months, the trial in Fulton County Superior Court has since been riddled with messy delays, moving with a glacial slowness that is expected to generate steady headlines through the summer. —Chris Richards, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024

Given the glacial pace at which antitrust cases move through the courts, the Apple lawsuit likely won’t be resolved until the next Presidency. —John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024

The glacial pace of change Across Fortune 500 companies, minority women hold just 7.8% of seats on boards, according to a 2023 Deloitte report. —Byrozina Breen, Fortune Europe, 1 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin glacialis, from glacies

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

glacial

adjective

gla·​cial ˈglā-shəl 

1

a

: extremely cold : frigid

b

: lacking warmth of feeling

2

a

: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers

b

: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time when a large portion of the earth was covered by glaciers

c

capitalized : pleistocene