1
: suggestive of ice: such as
a
: extremely cold : frigid
a glacial wind
b
: devoid of warmth and cordiality
a glacial handshake
c
: coldly imperturbable
maintained a glacial calm
2
: of a purity marked by the tendency to readily solidify in the form of ice-like crystals
glacial acetic acid
3
a(1)
: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time from Precambrian onward when a much larger portion of the earth was covered by glaciers than at present
(2)
capitalized
: pleistocene
b
: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers
c
: suggestive of the very slow movement of glaciers
progress on the bill has been glacial
Examples of glacial in a Sentence
Progress on the bill has been glacial.
a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend
Recent Examples on the Web
But my words have a glacial edge to them.
—
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Scientists have reason to believe that Upper Paleolithic humans in Ice Age Europe (particularly during glacial periods) may have been highly carnivorous.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
One multi-year project includes collecting core samples from glaciers to measure snow accumulation, the main contributor to glacial growth.
—Stefanie Waldek, AFAR Media, 12 Sep. 2025
Volpe, who now lives in Florida, acknowledges that government can move at a glacial pace.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glacial
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Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Scientists have reason to believe that Upper Paleolithic humans in Ice Age Europe (particularly during glacial periods) may have been highly carnivorous.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
One multi-year project includes collecting core samples from glaciers to measure snow accumulation, the main contributor to glacial growth.
—Stefanie Waldek, AFAR Media, 12 Sep. 2025
Volpe, who now lives in Florida, acknowledges that government can move at a glacial pace.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glacial
Cite this Entry
“Glacial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacial. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
glacial
adjective
gla·cial
ˈglā-shəl 
1
a
: extremely cold : frigid
b
: lacking warmth of feeling
2
a
: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers
b
: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time when a large portion of the earth was covered by glaciers
c
capitalized
: pleistocene
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