: 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
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
And most chilling of all, AI chatbots have interacted with vulnerable children in ways that encouraged self-harm, with tragic and fatal consequences.
—Bob Morgan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
With chilling detail, Marshall depicts the slaying of the Zulu monarch Shaka by his half brothers.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Talk of a global intifada took on a chilling resonance this month after two gunmen opened fire on Jews celebrating Hanukkah on Australia’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people.
—Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilling
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Adjective
McElearney described one of the bureau’s most chilling recordings, a shooter calmly describing the execution of Joseph Conigliaro, a ruthless mob associate who used a wheelchair.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
And most chilling of all, AI chatbots have interacted with vulnerable children in ways that encouraged self-harm, with tragic and fatal consequences.
—Bob Morgan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
With chilling detail, Marshall depicts the slaying of the Zulu monarch Shaka by his half brothers.
—James Meyer, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Talk of a global intifada took on a chilling resonance this month after two gunmen opened fire on Jews celebrating Hanukkah on Australia’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people.
—Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilling
Cite this Entry
“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilling. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chilling
adjective
chill·ing
ˈchil-iŋ 
: very disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chillingly
adverb
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