as in chilly
uncomfortably cool
a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in freezing
to cause to lose heat
chill the gelatin for two hours, until it sets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relaxing
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 discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of
investors chilled by the floundering economy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in lounging
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 chilling
Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Passengers faced a chilling ordeal when their cruise ship became stuck in icy Antarctic waters.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026
Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2026
The film builds toward a chilling psychological reckoning that forces Venus to confront the cost of survival — and what happens when the part of you that kept you alive refuses to let go.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilling
Adjective
Those words may be the most chilling of all.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Passengers faced a chilling ordeal when their cruise ship became stuck in icy Antarctic waters.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Bone-chilling weather is expected this weekend, with temperatures struggling to reach the 20s across most of the area and multiple mornings with wind chills below minus 10 degrees.
—Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2026
The film builds toward a chilling psychological reckoning that forces Venus to confront the cost of survival — and what happens when the part of you that kept you alive refuses to let go.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chilling
Adjective
-
Relations between Bass and Horvath have been chilly at least since the Palisades fire broke out.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Sunday morning will be chilly with the upper 50s.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
President Zelensky accused Russia of breaking its commitment to halt attacks that have left thousands without heat during freezing winter temperatures.—
Kamila Hrabchuk,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Heather said that until recently, the heat was not turned on at the facility despite freezing temperatures in January.—
Lilly Kersh,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The best lounge sets work for more than just relaxing around the house.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Cooking and baking are relaxing ways to unwind, try something new and inevitably reap the benefits of the — sweet or savory — break from the digital world.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The challenge for executives is to create organizational conditions that encourage these productive patterns while discouraging the seductive but self-defeating path of full automation.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In the spirit of discouraging intimacy pre-engagement, courting couples did not use each other's first names—at least, not in public.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The contrast piping detail gives it something structured for the lounging expert, and takes the robe from being a symbol of laziness to a symbol of sustained self-care.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
2 Feb. 2026
-
The pieces are made of a soft, wrinkle-resistant material that’s comfortable for traveling or lounging at home.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The service Resort staff is unfailingly friendly yet chill.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Pairing well with pizza, Piggy Pop is the perfect bottle for a ‘Netflix and chill’ Valentine’s date.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To pay for climate resiliency projects, Porter, a former member of Congress, proposed turning to artificial intelligence companies with data centers that require lots of energy, as well as water for cooling, and other companies that use more resources.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Temperatures Sunday are forecast to top out at 54 degrees before cooling down to 36 degrees overnight, according to the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office.—
Suryatapa Chakraborty,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mack and the Chargers’ defense pressured quarterbacks Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, frustrating them and keeping them out of their comfort zones.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chilling. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
