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
The huge glacial lake, which also holds the title of the fifth deepest lake in America, covers nearly 150 square miles of the Idaho panhandle and reaches 1,158 feet at its lowest point.
—
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 18 Mar. 2026
Children spent a morning learning horsemanship with local gauchos while adults hiked glacial valleys.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
By the time glacial ice from the era receded and temperatures warmed enough for the ectotherms, Ireland had broken off from the European continent and was inaccessible to roaming reptiles.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Whatever bumps or rock flakes the cliff once had were buffed smooth by glacial erosion over the course of millions of years.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for glacial
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 18 Mar. 2026
Children spent a morning learning horsemanship with local gauchos while adults hiked glacial valleys.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
By the time glacial ice from the era receded and temperatures warmed enough for the ectotherms, Ireland had broken off from the European continent and was inaccessible to roaming reptiles.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Whatever bumps or rock flakes the cliff once had were buffed smooth by glacial erosion over the course of millions of years.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 16 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 22 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
