bone-chilling

adjective

ˈbōn-ˌchi-liŋ How to pronounce bone-chilling (audio)
Definition of bone-chillingnext
as in frigid
having a low or subnormal temperature we stood in line for hours in the bone-chilling weather

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bone-chilling But her vitals are strong and there’s startling force in her unpredictable convulsions and bone-chilling noises. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 The Best Actor category, in particular, has honored a wide variety of performance types, from bone-chilling turns like Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) to heroic tributes to human decency like Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). — Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026 On our final push back to the lodge, the weather’s mood shifts again, and we’re battered by bone-chilling wind. — Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2026 During the last week of January, an arctic blast hit Texas, bringing ice and bone-chilling temperatures. — Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bone-chilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bone-chilling
  1. frigid
  2. icy
  3. cold
  4. chilly
  5. freezing
  6. chill
  7. cool
Adjective
  • Other produce like tomatoes have also had massive price increases because of a frigid winter combined with tariffs and diesel costs.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • McGinley photographed models cavorting naked (always naked) through sand dunes in the Mojave Desert and pine forests in Vermont, in a frigid ice cave in upstate New York and perched above a rushing waterfall in Tennessee.
    — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Definition of frigid
Adjective
  • Alaska is a state of pure beauty—a vast, beautiful destination filled with icy fjords and snowy peaks.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
  • More crucially, it was used during a sequence set along an icy river while George Washington is traversing the uncharted Ohio Territory wilderness.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 7 July 2026
Definition of icy
Adjective
  • Keep your ride clean Over the life of owning a car, especially in colder areas, salt and road grime can dull paint and cause rust on the underbody of your vehicles, according to Consumer Reports.
    — Keith Laing, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • The clinical home ecosystem has become the defining phrase of the 2025 to 2026 wellness spending cycle, as buyers stack cold plunges, red light beds and neurotech into serious at-home recovery setups.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • On a chilly afternoon in March 2018, two people were found slumped on a bench in an outdoor shopping complex in the city’s center.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Warm, soft, and timeless, this full-zip hoodie is perfect for wearing on a chilly plane, then tossing in a suitcase after the flight.
    — Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
Definition of chilly
Adjective
  • If freezing temperatures are predicted, pick any ripe fruit and cover the trunks of young trees with burlap or newspaper to insulate them.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 July 2026
  • The injured climber couldn’t continue, forcing the pair to spend a freezing night on the mountain with limited supplies.
    — James Ward, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of freezing
Adjective
  • The 25, also non-chill filtered, is bottled at 47 percent ABV (94 proof), and that higher proof goes a long way to unlocking the flavor here.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 June 2026
  • It was bottled at 43% ABV and is non-chill filtered.
    — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of chill
Adjective
  • The fabric feels cool against my skin and never sticks or clings, even on warmer nights.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • Of course, when training in heat and humidity, staying hydrated is critical as well as attempts to stay as cool as possible when training during hot temperatures.
    — Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of cool

Browse Nearby Words

bone
bone-chilling
boned
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Cite this Entry

“Bone-chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bone-chilling. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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