as in frigid
having a low or subnormal temperature
we stood in line for hours in the bone-chilling weather
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Recent Examples of bone-chilling
Parts of the Midwest saw storms including heavy snowfall and high winds, dangerous roads and bone-chilling temperatures overnight.
—
Dennis Romero, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2025
The costume is bone-chilling, from her Krampus-like fur, to the tail that creepily moves on its own, to the Kabuki-ghost makeup.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
The best long puffer jackets When bone-chilling cold weather hits, few high-performance wardrobe items are as essential as a long puffer coat.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, Glamour, 14 Oct. 2025
Using an ice chamber, the team froze mixtures of water, carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia to a bone-chilling –420 degrees Fahrenheit (-253 degrees Celsius), mimicking frigid conditions near the moon's surface.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bone-chilling
Dennis Romero, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2025
The costume is bone-chilling, from her Krampus-like fur, to the tail that creepily moves on its own, to the Kabuki-ghost makeup.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
The best long puffer jackets When bone-chilling cold weather hits, few high-performance wardrobe items are as essential as a long puffer coat.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, Glamour, 14 Oct. 2025
Using an ice chamber, the team froze mixtures of water, carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia to a bone-chilling –420 degrees Fahrenheit (-253 degrees Celsius), mimicking frigid conditions near the moon's surface.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bone-chilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bone-chilling
Adjective
-
Whoever wins in November will fly to Sacramento to face the mess left behind by a governor departed for the frigid Iowa campaign hustings.—
John Seiler,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
-
On a calm, frigid afternoon, Matthews showed me the array and pointed out that the aircraft radar was on, to make sure that no errant pilot tried to fly overhead.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Creature repays the favor by using his strength to free the ship from its icy prison.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
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But the growing body of evidence — including its comet-like tail, gas jets and molecular composition — strongly indicates that the object is a natural icy body.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The snowpack acts as a natural water storage system for California, and ideally when the region’s climate shifts from cold to warm and dry, the snow gradually melts down from rivers and creeks to fill reservoirs over a period of months.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Direct Sowing Outside This method is simple but must be done during fall to allow for natural cold stratification.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The solid side features side-seam pockets that are perfect for keeping your hands warm on chilly days, while the tartan side features flap pockets to keep your phone, earbuds, and other small valuables secure.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
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Ahead of the chilly weather, conditions will be warm and sunny on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, according to the National Weather Service Fort Worth.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In other words, the salt layer acted like an extra boost to the freezing process, helping push Earth toward a deeper frozen state.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Mar. 2026
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After this week, if no freezing temperatures are expected, plants can remain outside until transplanting.—
Holly McNamara,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Varieties of Blueberries Blueberry varieties differ in terms of how many chill hours (the number of hours in wintertime when your temperature is at or below 45°F) are needed to produce fruit, as well as the plant’s heat tolerance.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
12 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
-
Breathable mesh accents keep your feet cool and dry all day, while the anti-microbial, anti-odor insole technology keeps everything extra fresh, even in sticky weather.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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As the name implies, this cool dessert is a true delight.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bone-chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bone-chilling. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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