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
The vineyards are cultivated on over 60 different types of soils of glacial origin, each of which is unique in terms of biodiversity.
—
Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Colossal and glacial glass squids were filmed in their natural environments for the first time.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
To become a genuine peer of China, India would need to grow consistently at eight percent per year over the next 25 years while China grows at a glacial two percent.
—Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
Yet even compared to the glacial Marvel-Netflix Dramas, Zack Snyder's Justice League is a chore.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for glacial
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Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Colossal and glacial glass squids were filmed in their natural environments for the first time.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
To become a genuine peer of China, India would need to grow consistently at eight percent per year over the next 25 years while China grows at a glacial two percent.
—Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
Yet even compared to the glacial Marvel-Netflix Dramas, Zack Snyder's Justice League is a chore.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 15 June 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 3 Jul. 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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