chills

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 chills Challengers, including conservative advocacy groups, argue the law unconstitutionally chills political speech and participation. Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025 This kind of political pressure on broadcasters and artists chills free speech and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of working Americans. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025 The Professor Watchlist has been denounced by faculty associations as a blacklist that chills academic freedom. Stephanie A, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025 During the height of the summer heat, the ice chills the water for the penguin, sea otter and hippo habitats. Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Sep. 2025 Yet, even if courts side with Cook, the damage is done—the intimidation chills independent decision-making. Dan Irvine, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 The Stanford team’s passive cooling system chills water by a few degrees with the help of radiative panels that absorb heat and beam it directly into outerspace. IEEE Spectrum, 5 Sep. 2017 This chills free speech and further fuels the militarization of law enforcement. Lauren Carasik, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chills
Verb
  • Early this year, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service assessed the risk from Russia once its Ukraine war stops or freezes in place.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Water enough to keep the roots moist but not soggy, about once every two weeks until the soil freezes.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The plaintiffs—three current students in Brooklyn yeshivas, their parents, and two former students—ask the courts to strike down a new law that relaxes oversight of nonpublic schools.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Also, closing your mouth a bit relaxes your jaw muscles and gives you more space back there.
    Elizabeth Cohen, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Michigan's Department of Natural Resources discourages people from keeping wild animals as pets.
    Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Allowing more sunlight in also discourages the growth of mold.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The cranky and irritating backseat driver, who bums a lift midway through the Griswolds' adventure, also has with her the easily excitable pooch Dinky.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • While cookie cools, whisk together powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream in a small bowl until smooth.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
  • As the weather cools, Howoo makes for a perfectly cozy and filling dinner.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This is part of a business model that has worked for TCU’s regular-season record, but increasingly frustrates fans who want to see a decent matchup in September.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The sharp jump in investor activity is likely due to their financial strength, which can often combat the state’s legendary low affordability that frustrates the common house hunter.
    Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • More stories surely lurk within these labyrinthine hallways, and there could be no wittier, more charismatic guide than del Toro, who strolls and even dances through the movie with Zen grace.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the White Lotus actress, 31, strolls in a pair of silver flats.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Impressionistic lyrics would fit this stuff, but Le Bon pokes the spacious haze with direct evocations of love and heartbreak.
    Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The track pokes fun at consumerism and a materialistic society constantly seeking the next best thing, a theme that remains relevant nearly 45 years later.
    Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Chills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chills. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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