1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

chills out

verb

present tense third-person singular of chill out, slang
1
as in settles (down)
to become still and orderly stop making that racket, and just chill out!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relaxes
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety if you don't chill out, you're going to get an ulcer

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 chills out As the cake chills out, add fresh raspberries to a blender pitcher and purée until smooth. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chills out
  1. cools
  2. relaxes
  3. hushes
  4. winds down
  5. loosens up
  6. rests
  7. chills
Verb
  • As the mixture cools, the lowest energy configuration appears, providing an answer to the problem.
    — Mike McRae September 22, New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The site noted that subjective relaxation from passive heat exposure is well-documented, with parasympathetic tone rising as the body cools after a session.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of cools
Verb
  • The intimate spa offers a number of different treatments and beauty rituals, but the standout one is Oro di Amalfi, an exclusive massage with natural lemon oils that relaxes and stimulates the chakras.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • What causes snoring in the first place Most snoring comes down to what happens inside the airway once the body relaxes.
    — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of relaxes
Verb
  • Sweeping views over Hyde Park and expert soundproofing that hushes those busy London street horns.
    — Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
  • The top itself is an eight-layer cloth construction that satisfyingly hushes the cabin when raised.
    — Brett Berk, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of hushes
Verb
  • The worst of the deadly nor'easter that's lashed the Northeast is behind us, and Monday will feature minor impacts as the storm winds down.
    — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In the aerial footage shot by Moreno and Marciniw, the sound of the engine’s motor winds down and a horn blares, possibly warning the pilot that the main rotor speed had dropped too low or the helicopter had lost hydraulics.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of winds down
Verb
  • The two eventually connect and learn from each other; Ray loosens up and Molly grows up.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The hot queso frito loaded with Oaxaca cheese, salsa negra, pico, cilantro, and tortillas is richer and exactly the kind of dish that loosens up a group after a second round of drinks.
    — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
Definition of loosens up
Verb
  • The Dodgers’ clearest and cleanest route to a three-peat nonetheless rests upon the four shoulders of Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Baek’s fate in the end rests in the hands of his little brother, Baek Ki-hyeon.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of rests
Verb
  • With her severe bob and icy demeanor, Miranda chills her underlings to the bone.
    — Jami Ganz, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of chills

Browse Nearby Words

chills
chills out
chilly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chills out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chills%20out. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of slew

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All