glacial

adjective

gla·​cial ˈglā-shəl 

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

glacially

ˈglā-shə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of glacial

• icy
• freezing
• frigid
• cold
• chilly
• chill
• cool

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

Progress on a new distribution deal has been glacial but Premier League clubs have, at least, recently put a proper offer to EFL, though one which seems unlikely to be accepted. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Researchers said glacial isostatic adjustment — the ongoing movement of land on which ice-age glaciers were once found — may or may not have had something to do with the quake. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Despite letters being exchanged virtually, the pace was glacial. — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026

Federal legislation of social media has moved at a glacial pace. — Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin glacialis, from glacies

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for glacial

• facial
• racial
• spacial
• spatial
• bifacial
• biracial
• palatial
• postglacial
• preglacial
• subglacial
• craniofacial
• interfacial

Kids 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