chills

verb

present tense third-person singular of chill
1
as in freezes
to cause to lose heat chill the gelatin for two hours, until it sets

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relaxes
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety you want to hang out with us and just chill this weekend?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in discourages
to lessen the courage or confidence of investors chilled by the floundering economy

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

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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 chills The use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal trials is controversial, with critics saying the practice chills creative expression and allows prosecutors to distort hyperbolic art in ways that reinforce racist stereotypes. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026 Authorities say the case grew from overseas shipments flagged by customs, marking a third round of national security arrests that further chills Hong Kong’s already precarious independent book trade. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026 This nifty side table chills beverages for hours while doubling as a convenient spot to set down drinks or snacks. — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026 Uncertainty chills the market TOPSHOT - Smoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on March 14, 2026. — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 25 Mar. 2026 The metro chills behind the front on Friday and only warms into the low 40s. — Chris Shaffer, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 The lawsuit, whose defendants include the Department of Homeland Security, argues that federal officers' use of such munitions is a retaliation against protesters that chills their First Amendment rights. — Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026 The suit names the Department of Homeland Security and argues that officers’ use of chemical munitions amounts to retaliation that chills First Amendment rights. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 10 Mar. 2026 The lawsuit, whose defendants include the Department of Homeland Security, argues that federal officers’ use of such munitions is a retaliation against protesters that chills their First Amendment rights. — ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chills
  1. freezes
  2. relaxes
  3. discourages
  4. bums
  5. cools
  6. frustrates
  7. idles
  8. refrigerates
Verb
  • Every autumn, as the bay freezes, hundreds of these bears gather around it before heading out across the ice, and thousands of tourists come to see them.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • In winter, the lake freezes over, with skating, snowshoeing, and skiing all nearby.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of freezes
Verb
  • And then of course the jacuzzi, which releases tension and relaxes the muscles.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The advocates argue that the bill relaxes age-verification requirements and includes an advertising carveout for Google.
    — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of relaxes
Verb
  • By focusing on the answers, Tao says, AI discourages mathematicians from working on alternative approaches that might arrive at the same solution.
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
  • After that, the Chicago Park District strongly discourages swimming, as no lifeguards will be on duty.
    — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of discourages
Verb
  • The joy Lisa has with her RHUGT cast compared with the dread her RHOSLC cast seems to bring her really bums me out — especially because of how much of this trip is championing the sisterhood of Housewives.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Critical thinking really bums them out.
    — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of bums
Verb
  • Its hot iron core -- oversized for such a small world -- cools and contracts along with the mantle and crust, tightening the surface like a girdle to fit its new slimmer self.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
  • As the weather cools, the park’s cartoonish boulders, outlandish flora and winding trails become more approachable (but don’t get too close to those jumping cholla cactuses).
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of cools
Verb
  • While fragmentation frustrates people juggling multiple services, streamers see value in picking up even a few games, as sports fans have shown a tendency to keep subscribing after the final whistle.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The nation’s paperwork regime frustrates every resident, and particularly lower-income residents who use more government programs and interact more frequently with public officials.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrates
Verb
  • As your car idles, warm air blown from the top of your dashboard will melt the ice on the outside of the windshield.
    — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025
  • Security camera footage shows a black vehicle park in front of Café Bernardo, a restaurant, and idles for about two minutes.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2025
Definition of idles
Verb
  • Sunny Broccoli Salad A Cleveland reader makes this classic potluck salad the day ahead and refrigerates the dressing and vegetables separately.
    — Jasmine Thompson, Midwest Living, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of refrigerates

Browse Nearby Words

chill out
chills
chills out
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Cite this Entry

“Chills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chills. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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