chilling

1 of 2

adjective

chill·​ing ˈchi-liŋ 

: gravely disturbing or frightening

a chilling case of abuse

chillingly

ˈchi-liŋ-lē 

adverb

chilling

2 of 2

present participle of chill entry 3

Synonyms of chilling

Adjective

• chilly
• chill
• bleak
• bitter
• cold

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

Adjective

Those words have taken on a chilling resonance as commenters debate whether Hilton deserves sympathy. — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026

Thalidomide’s failure had a chilling effect on progress toward a treatment. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026

A couple living in the suburbs of Detroit has been accused of throwing an explosive device with a chilling two-word message into their neighbor's yard, local prosecutors said. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Police said the homeowner was away for the weekend and made the chilling discovery on their surveillance video. — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1815, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chilling

• bone-chilling
• spine-chilling

Rhymes for chilling

• billing
• drilling
• filling
• grilling
• killing
• milling
• pilling
• rilling
• schilling
• shilling
• skilling
• spilling

Kids Definition

chilling

adjective

chill·​ing ˈchil-iŋ 

: very disturbing or frightening

a chilling case of abuse

chillingly adverb