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
Alaska’s wealth of lakes can be attributed to a few factors, including erosion, tectonic processes, the thawing of permafrost, and volcanic and glacial activity.
—
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
At the 2014 Golden Globes, Scandal actress Kerry Washington showed off her pregnancy glow in the palest shade of glacial green.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
As the network and Dick Clark Productions threw everything against the wall in the hopes of finding something sticky to snare viewership and make the whole thing move along at a more than glacial pace, the Globes can do better.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2026
Basin’s unique sauna ceremonies, thermal pools, and glacial lounges combine cutting-edge science and wellness techniques with the Fairmont’s unrivaled attention to detail and service.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for glacial
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Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
At the 2014 Golden Globes, Scandal actress Kerry Washington showed off her pregnancy glow in the palest shade of glacial green.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
As the network and Dick Clark Productions threw everything against the wall in the hopes of finding something sticky to snare viewership and make the whole thing move along at a more than glacial pace, the Globes can do better.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2026
Basin’s unique sauna ceremonies, thermal pools, and glacial lounges combine cutting-edge science and wellness techniques with the Fairmont’s unrivaled attention to detail and service.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Jan. 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 17 Jan. 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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