chilling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈchi-liŋ How to pronounce chilling (audio)
Definition of chillingnext
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter

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chilling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of chill
1
as in freezing
to cause to lose heat chill the gelatin for two hours, until it sets

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2
as in relaxing
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 discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of investors chilled by the floundering economy

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4
as in lounging
to spend time doing nothing instead of going out tonight, let's stay in and chill

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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 chilling
Adjective
Full of eerie coincidences, noir elements, and chilling imagery, Diabolique still makes for a good fright. — Air Mail, 10 Oct. 2026 But just as memorable as Drew Barrymore’s gut-wrenching opening scene was Marco Beltrami’s chilling score, one that heightened the suspense and terror at every turn. — Scott Shilstone, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
Employing a dual timeline, Florida author Jennifer McMahon tells a bone-chilling tale about the local knackerman, a person who disposes of dead or dying farm animals, in remote Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. — Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 11 Oct. 2026 Instead, the procedure transformed him into an unstable super-soldier — capable of being magnetically charming one moment and dangerously chilling the next. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chilling
  1. chilly
  2. freezing
  3. relaxing
  4. discouraging
  5. lounging
  6. chill
  7. cooling
  8. frustrating
Adjective
  • Lightweight blankets are soft and comfortable for curling up on a chilly evening.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Rowers pushed through a rainy and chilly start Friday morning while fans in ponchos and raincoats cheered them on.
    — Anna Meiler, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of chilly
Verb
  • Measures include freezing the civil service pay index and tightening reimbursement for sick leave.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Two Utah residents who hiked Mount Shasta in Northern California were rescued after they became stranded during a perilous 36-hour journey through freezing conditions.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of freezing
Verb
  • After exploring or relaxing by the pool, head to the freestanding infrared sauna with optional salt halotherapy.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The layout is geared toward indoor-outdoor living, with ample space for relaxing and entertaining across four decks.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of relaxing
Verb
  • Amid reports of a surge in federal immigration raids, Los Angeles leaders and immigration advocates said Friday that the efforts appear aimed at discouraging turnout in the midterm elections, and urged voters not to be intimidated.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In response, Cobb County police plan to increase patrols on and around the holiday and other departments are discouraging participation.
    — Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of discouraging
Verb
  • Before the sexy spectacle began livestreaming, Bündchen appeared in a video, lounging on a couch in pink lingerie, the ocean behind her.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • At the stern, the line’s signature ocean lounge is fitted with fold-out terraces that open to create an expansive waterside area for lounging or watersports.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of lounging
Adjective
  • The group’s trademark sense of space, room for the sax, Sandman’s voice, and ear candy like acoustic guitar, echoey cymbals, and distant piano, and their uniquely chill sense of melody take cente rstage on the song.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The Asics Gel-SlowCush prioritizes comfort while being recommended for recovery runs, low-intensity training or merely chill jaunts.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of chill
Verb
  • If not the margin of error, this could be down to thermal management, as the XPS Googlebook is the smallest and lightest of the lineup, leaving less room for cooling hardware and heat dissipation than the HP model.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Hot flashes and night sweats are common symptoms of menopause that can become life threatening during extreme heat events and when cooling, hydration and hormone therapy are limited or unavailable.
    — Jaquelyn Jahn, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of cooling
Verb
  • But Algo’s hyper-logical, computerised process of consistently picking the favourites to win was undone in the second match of the day, with Ghana frustrating England in a 0-0 draw.
    — The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Definition of frustrating

Browse Nearby Words

chilliness
chilling
chilling out
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Cite this Entry

“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chilling. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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