: 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
Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
When the characters occasionally look at the camera, the effect is chilling, briefly but powerfully bridging the distance between then and now, them and us.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Bateman’s most chilling trait is not his violence.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Police released chilling images on Facebook showing the squalid conditions the victim had been made to live in.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
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Adjective
For instance under the relax are specific recordings for recharging, chilling, unwinding, destressing and traveling.
—Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
When the characters occasionally look at the camera, the effect is chilling, briefly but powerfully bridging the distance between then and now, them and us.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Bateman’s most chilling trait is not his violence.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Police released chilling images on Facebook showing the squalid conditions the victim had been made to live in.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 22 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 30 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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