: gravely disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chilling
2 of 2present participle of chill entry 3
Examples of chilling in a Sentence
Adjective
a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 20 June 2025
Now, in 2025, the breach at UNFI raises a chilling question: what a biological virus could not shut down, could a cyberattack succeed in crippling?
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
This ruling is a chilling step toward unchecked government overreach, intruding on the most personal aspects of our private lives.
—Nick Mordowanec
barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
This is a chilling reminder that artistic mentors can be abusive in many different ways.
—Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chilling
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Adjective
Come for the carnage (R.I.P. little Alex Kintner), stay for the chilling character moments (Shaw's USS Indianapolis speech as Quint).
—Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 20 June 2025
Now, in 2025, the breach at UNFI raises a chilling question: what a biological virus could not shut down, could a cyberattack succeed in crippling?
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
This ruling is a chilling step toward unchecked government overreach, intruding on the most personal aspects of our private lives.
—Nick Mordowanec
barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025
This is a chilling reminder that artistic mentors can be abusive in many different ways.
—Heather Scott Partington, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chilling
Cite this Entry
“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilling. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chilling
adjective
chill·ing
ˈchil-iŋ 
: very disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chillingly
adverb
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