: 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
Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
The footage of the show — including the fatal stabbing of concertgoer Meredith Hunter by members of the Hell’s Angels — remains some of the most chilling ever captured in music history.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
The White House has also been considering unilateral action that, if taken, could have a chilling effect on new state laws.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 22 Nov. 2025
The conviction and incarceration of the Hollywood Ten left a chilling effect on subsequent witnesses called to appear before congressional committees.
—Jodie Childers, The Conversation, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chilling
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.
Adjective
Each equally chilling, each well-set in one of the best Doctor Who two-parters to date.
—Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
The footage of the show — including the fatal stabbing of concertgoer Meredith Hunter by members of the Hell’s Angels — remains some of the most chilling ever captured in music history.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
The White House has also been considering unilateral action that, if taken, could have a chilling effect on new state laws.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 22 Nov. 2025
The conviction and incarceration of the Hollywood Ten left a chilling effect on subsequent witnesses called to appear before congressional committees.
—Jodie Childers, The Conversation, 20 Nov. 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 30 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chilling
adjective
chill·ing
ˈchil-iŋ 
: very disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chillingly
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share