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 Tetons aren’t the only mountains to climb, and Jenny Lake isn’t the only glacial body of water to jump in after a long hike or day of wildlife viewing.
—
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2025
Underestimating Slow Adoption Cycles Early fintech founders can often underestimate the glacial pace of financial institutions.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Could Trevino be the one who broke Statcast with his glacial eephus?
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 10 July 2025
There are 87 other ichthyosaurs in the glacial field where Fiona was found, and the researchers are working to understand the reasons behind their deaths, too.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for glacial
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Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2025
Underestimating Slow Adoption Cycles Early fintech founders can often underestimate the glacial pace of financial institutions.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
Could Trevino be the one who broke Statcast with his glacial eephus?
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 10 July 2025
There are 87 other ichthyosaurs in the glacial field where Fiona was found, and the researchers are working to understand the reasons behind their deaths, too.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 July 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 26 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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