chilling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈchi-liŋ How to pronounce chilling (audio)
Definition of chillingnext
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chilling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of chill
1
as in freezing
to cause to lose heat chill the gelatin for two hours, until it sets

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relaxing
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety you want to hang out with us and just chill this weekend?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of investors chilled by the floundering economy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in lounging
to spend time doing nothing instead of going out tonight, let's stay in and chill

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chilling
Adjective
Across the country, Allison Groff has seen an old and chilling form of antisemitism rear its head. — Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026 That chilling effect, of course, is precisely what Trump is after. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 July 2026
Verb
These can be made into a wafer shape as well by shaping the dough into logs and chilling it before making 1/4-inch-thick slices. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 4 July 2026 Ten days after Guthrie was reported missing, the FBI released chilling doorbell camera images of an armed and masked man outside her home on the morning of her disappearance. — Adela Suliman, NBC news, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for chilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chilling
  1. chilly
  2. freezing
  3. relaxing
  4. discouraging
  5. lounging
  6. chill
  7. cooling
  8. frustrating
Adjective
  • Follow the breeze into a century-old limestone mine that stays at a chilly 52 degrees year-round.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 21 July 2026
  • Michelle Obama recently wore a similar pale blue polish, Emily Blunt went lavender, and Taylor Swift got a jumpstart on the season in an equally chilly millennial mint shade.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 20 July 2026
Definition of chilly
Verb
  • Room-temperature operation Quantum computers mostly depend on massive, freezing dilution refrigerators.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
  • Within hours of the vote, opposition parties petitioned the High Court of Justice, which issued a temporary injunction freezing its implementation.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of freezing
Verb
  • Pascal, 51, kept things casual in a purple T-shirt and matching shorts while relaxing on the yacht.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
  • There is absolutely no wellspring of untapped energy in the country in favor of relaxing gun laws.
    — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026
Definition of relaxing
Verb
  • The goal should be an ethics system that protects the public while discouraging abuse for political purposes.
    — Eric "Doc" Stelnicki, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026
  • Sadly, in discouraging all the phantom agonies, FIFA inadvertently seems to have done away with the equally farcical phenomenon that is Magic Spray®.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of discouraging
Verb
  • For tennis lessons, swinging at the driving range, and even lounging on the couch, this skort works for a range of occasions.
    — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
  • The scoop neck and open back give the suit a flirty feel without sacrificing security, making this pick ideal for swimming and poolside lounging alike.
    — Alexandra Malmed, InStyle, 16 July 2026
Definition of lounging
Adjective
  • Red Kap’s clever pants are made from proprietary cooling fabric that feels chill to the touch for all-day comfort.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2026
  • The 25, also non-chill filtered, is bottled at 47 percent ABV (94 proof), and that higher proof goes a long way to unlocking the flavor here.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 June 2026
Definition of chill
Verb
  • Spare a thought for the weary new Airbus A350-1000ULR, which is cooling its jets in Melbourne after completing its first-ever nonstop test flight from France.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • The pool was another favorite space, both for getting some sun in the morning and cooling off in the hot Austin afternoons.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 July 2026
Definition of cooling
Verb
  • But Algo’s hyper-logical, computerised process of consistently picking the favourites to win was undone in the second match of the day, with Ghana frustrating England in a 0-0 draw.
    — The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Definition of frustrating

Browse Nearby Words

chilliness
chilling
chilling out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chilling. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on chilling

Nglish: Translation of chilling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chilling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of comely

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All