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)
Glacial
: 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
Yeti takes place deep in the Alps, where an avalanche has unleashed something primeval from the glacial ice.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Community members in favor of Measure V cite the numerous obstacles standing in the way of affordable housing and say they’re frustrated by the glacial pace of development in town.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 5 Mar. 2026
The reservation’s millions of acres cover and border terrain from rivers and grasslands to high alpine systems, including the largest contiguous glacial complex in the lower 48.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Over time, the south end of the large glacial lake filled in with sand, resulting in geologic features preserved in the Indiana Dunes National Park.
—Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for glacial
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Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Community members in favor of Measure V cite the numerous obstacles standing in the way of affordable housing and say they’re frustrated by the glacial pace of development in town.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 5 Mar. 2026
The reservation’s millions of acres cover and border terrain from rivers and grasslands to high alpine systems, including the largest contiguous glacial complex in the lower 48.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Over time, the south end of the large glacial lake filled in with sand, resulting in geologic features preserved in the Indiana Dunes National Park.
—Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for glacial
Cite this Entry
“Glacial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacial. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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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