1
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
were met with a chill gaze when they arrived home late from the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
this chill weather is making my teeth chatter
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3
as in cold
having a low or subnormal temperature
no one should be coatless on a chill night as this
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4
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the house's design may be cutting-edge, but it has a chill sterility about it that is anything but homey
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as in chilliness
an uncomfortable degree of coolness
there's a chill in the air, so you'd better wear a sweater
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1
as in to freeze
to cause to lose heat
chill the gelatin for two hours, until it sets
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2
as in to relax
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
you want to hang out with us and just chill this weekend?
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3
as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of
investors chilled by the floundering economy
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4
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing
instead of going out tonight, let's stay in and chill
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chill
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
How To Prune Blueberry Bushes Blueberries need a number of chill hours below 45ºF during dormancy to prompt new growth and flower development for next season.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
An extreme cold watch is issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are possible.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Microsoft wrote that a ban on Anthropic would hurt its own business, and could chill future defense-industry investment and engagement with AI.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chill
Adjective
Temperature Blueberry production is dependent on chill hours, says Putnam.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
How To Prune Blueberry Bushes Blueberries need a number of chill hours below 45ºF during dormancy to prompt new growth and flower development for next season.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
For example, if someone also has systemic symptoms (like fever and chills), these color changes could signal an infection.
—Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
An extreme cold watch is issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are possible.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
Thankfully, Janus Films will release Kurosawa’s bone-chilling short at IFC Center in New York City starting this weekend.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Microsoft wrote that a ban on Anthropic would hurt its own business, and could chill future defense-industry investment and engagement with AI.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chill
Adjective
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There are stories of a knife-wielding, bride-killing monster lurking in the woods, which Nicky’s big brother (Jeff Wilbusch’s icy Jules) may or may not have encountered as a child.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
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McKenna was reported missing on March 15 in Sioux Falls, while a significant early spring snowstorm brought in anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of snow, strong winds and icy roads across the eastern part of the state.—
Angela George,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In previous interviews with USA TODAY, experts said the FCC's action could have a chilling effect on television broadcasters’ speech.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
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The perils of late-stage capitalism and the swerve away from Antihero TV toward toxic yuri make Galsworthy’s chilling protagonist Soames Forsyte quite difficult to root for, really.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Miami-Dade cold case detectives say that this is just one of the cold cases they are dedicated to solving.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Take advantage of the soon-to-start farmers market with a deal on Nama’s cold press juicer.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Bathrooms are smartly designed to fit large shower-baths into a relatively compact space; tiling is dark and mirrored with pleasing gold accents.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
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Brown, a mental health advocate, has also previously mentioned Moore as a key person who was there for him during dark times.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In general, creditors cannot simply freeze your bank account on their own.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Skies are expected to clear, and winds are expected to calm down overnight Friday, which will allow temperatures to drop to or below freezing early Saturday morning.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The agency waived age limits for new recruits, relaxed its vetting process, and decreased the training period for incoming officers.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
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Also, a mule has the rare quality of looking very polished and relaxed at the same time.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mention cutting toxic people out of your life (but don’t reveal that the people in question are your friends who, at lunch, discouraged you from posting that).—
Emily Menez,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
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Within days, China’s surprise intervention in the deal quickly shattered that hope, as Beijing stepped up efforts to discourage Chinese AI founders from moving their businesses offshore.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Temperatures will struggle to reach 50° on Saturday afternoon, with a chilly breeze.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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One big potential downside of the Air design is that all that mesh seems likely to make for some chilly nights outside the heart of summer.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chill. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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