1
as in settling (down)
to become still and orderly
stop making that racket, and just chill out!
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relaxing
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
if you don't chill out, you're going to get an ulcer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of chilling out
What had seemed like a good way of chilling out was actually plunging me into a kind of crisis.
—
Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
If holiday burnout has you in the mood for rest and relaxation, the star advises taking a break to enjoy one of her favorite holiday traditions—chilling out at home with the family.
—Essence, 15 Dec. 2025
As the moon and Venus connect, chilling out doesn’t have to be a snooze-fest.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Screenshots of the viral video show Punky bear chilling out in the poster's pool.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
That chilling out and taking it slow means staying away from pushing themselves and well within their comfort zone.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
If holiday burnout has you in the mood for rest and relaxation, the star advises taking a break to enjoy one of her favorite holiday traditions—chilling out at home with the family.
—Essence, 15 Dec. 2025
As the moon and Venus connect, chilling out doesn’t have to be a snooze-fest.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Screenshots of the viral video show Punky bear chilling out in the poster's pool.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
That chilling out and taking it slow means staying away from pushing themselves and well within their comfort zone.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chilling out
Verb
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Peak cooling efficiency is typically reached at intermediate speed, so there isn't a reason to have the ceiling fan set as fast as possible.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
6 June 2026
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Data centers nationally consumed 17 billion gallons of water for cooling in 2023 — a figure that could quadruple by 2028, according to estimates from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.—
Jack O'Connor,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Orange blossom Similar to lemon verbena, orange blossom is calming, antispasmodic (relaxing the muscles in the walls of your internal organs), and anti-nausea.—
Mélanie Defouilloy,
Vogue,
6 June 2026
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There’s also plenty of time for relaxing poolside and browsing boutiques built into the schedule.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Bonner sank a 3-pointer from the corner with the shot clock winding down to give Phoenix a 64-62 lead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 June 2026
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Outgoing contractor Triangle Services, whose security division is known as Viking Security, has been winding down its operations in Minnesota, and Ramsey County was its last account in that field.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
2 June 2026
Verb
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If the plant was root bound in its pot, consider pulling it out of the ground, loosening up the roots so water can penetrate, and replanting it.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
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After the ceasefire, oil prices plunged and bond yields fell, loosening up some of the cost crunch for consumers and businesses alike.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chilling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chilling%20out. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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