: 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
Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
Between the cooling and chilling time, the flavors meld and make the perfect combo of spicy and sweet.
—Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
The author’s works foretold a chilling future and Orwell weaves together clips, readings from his diaries (by an excellent Damian Lewis), cinematic references and modern-day footage.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2025
That fixation would eventually draw national attention — and influence the creation of some of Hollywood’s most chilling characters, including the killer in the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chilling
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Adjective
Ever since American Horror Story debuted on FX in 2011, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s anthology series has captivated audiences with its chilling tales, twisted characters, and unique format.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025
Between the cooling and chilling time, the flavors meld and make the perfect combo of spicy and sweet.
—Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
The author’s works foretold a chilling future and Orwell weaves together clips, readings from his diaries (by an excellent Damian Lewis), cinematic references and modern-day footage.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2025
That fixation would eventually draw national attention — and influence the creation of some of Hollywood’s most chilling characters, including the killer in the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 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 7 Oct. 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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