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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
this chill weather is making my teeth chatter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cold
having a low or subnormal temperature
no one should be coatless on a chill night as this
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in chilliness
an uncomfortable degree of coolness
there's a chill in the air, so you'd better wear a sweater
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to freeze
to cause to lose heat
chill the gelatin for two hours, until it sets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to discourage
to lessen the courage or confidence of
investors chilled by the floundering economy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to lazy
to spend time doing nothing
instead of going out tonight, let's stay in and chill
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 chill
Malaka Gharib, NPR, 10 Dec. 2025
Cover and chill 8 hours or overnight.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2025
Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026
In Orange County, Reedy Lake and Lake Buena Vista had wind-chill temps of 11 degrees.
—Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Ariana Dickson, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
Although Meta tech chief Andrew Bosworth told media outlets last week that Meta is not halting its VR efforts, the company’s outsized impact on that industry has chilled some developers and sparked fears of a VR winter, CNBC reported.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chill
Adjective
Sit instead of hovering, breathe and chill, and then your bladder muscle contracts.
—Malaka Gharib, NPR, 10 Dec. 2025
Cover and chill 8 hours or overnight.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2025
Noun
Current wind chills are in the 30s to 40s across Florida, and the teens and 20s in Georgia and the Carolinas.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026
In Orange County, Reedy Lake and Lake Buena Vista had wind-chill temps of 11 degrees.
—Roger Simmons, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
Bruceriver Pure Wool Knit Gloves Cold hands can ruin even the best winter day, which is why wool gloves are non-negotiable in bone-chilling cold.
—Ariana Dickson, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
Although Meta tech chief Andrew Bosworth told media outlets last week that Meta is not halting its VR efforts, the company’s outsized impact on that industry has chilled some developers and sparked fears of a VR winter, CNBC reported.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chill
Adjective
-
In Nashville, Tennessee, a small nonprofit mobilized volunteers to check on elderly and homebound neighbors, salt icy driveways, and run emergency errands.—
Cat Ward,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Passengers faced a chilling ordeal when their cruise ship became stuck in icy Antarctic waters.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This is a chilling history of a problem still ravaging significant swaths of America — not to mention elsewhere in the world.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Those words may be the most chilling of all.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Her nurse scooped her up and ran to put her into a cold bath, and slowly the motions faded.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Ways to do that include cold showers, taking a nature walk, laughing, taking deep breaths, listening to something relaxing, or humming to yourself.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Jim is the only one standing still, staring straight at the camera with his intense, dark-blue eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Small described the shooter as a male who was wearing dark clothing and black and white shoes.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump said late Thursday that President Vladimir Putin had agreed to a temporary pause in targeting Kyiv and other places as the region experiences freezing temperatures that have brought widespread hardship to civilians.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Florida freeze Extreme cold and freeze alerts were hoisted for much of the state on Friday in advance of the worst cold.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sleep disturbances While marijuana’s mild sedating and relaxing effects can sometimes help people who have difficulty falling asleep, experts say there are several important things to consider before using it as a sleep aid.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Protect the nest and set kind rules everyone understands, because clarity gives you strength while your intuition helps the household relax.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The travel watch still discourages unnecessary travel.—
Cheryl Vari,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The region is grappling with a winter storm that is paralyzing activity in the area with freezing precipitation on its roads, discouraging shoppers from heading out to stores.—
Brian Womack,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Whether it's been a few days or a few years, a forkful of liver and onions will always deliver a dose of nostalgia—after all, this was the recipe so many Southern grandmas made to keep warm and fortified on an unseasonably chilly day.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The light wooden furniture, cosy space and Mediterranean menu offers a pleasant respite from the chilly damp of London’s winter.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chill. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
