1
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
those chilly nights when a warm fire can be especially comforting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
a chilly glare directed at the person who tried to go to the head of the line
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cold
having a low or subnormal temperature
a chilly spring morning
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chilly
Video from early January shows the coyote paddling in the chilly San Francisco Bay and then struggling to get onto the rocky island.
—
ABC News, 5 May 2026
While there is nothing better than a warm apple pie on a chilly autumn evening, the sweet dessert hits the spot any time of year.
—Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
For the first few hundred million years, the vast cosmic gas between galaxies was primarily a chilly, dense affair.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 4 May 2026
Elevated Fleece On a chilly day, a sailboat, or in strong air conditioning, Mom wants to be warm and comfortable without sacrificing style.
—Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilly
ABC News, 5 May 2026
While there is nothing better than a warm apple pie on a chilly autumn evening, the sweet dessert hits the spot any time of year.
—Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 5 May 2026
For the first few hundred million years, the vast cosmic gas between galaxies was primarily a chilly, dense affair.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 4 May 2026
Elevated Fleece On a chilly day, a sailboat, or in strong air conditioning, Mom wants to be warm and comfortable without sacrificing style.
—Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chilly
Adjective
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The dinner scene with Niall’s mum, Lori (Neve McIntosh), and Ruben’s mum, Maura (Marianne McIvor) — when Joanna confronts them over Ruben’s behaviour — is both chilling and cathartic.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
With the ubiquity of artificial intelligence, this revival is a chilling night at the theatre, Helen Shaw writes.—
Austin Elias-de Jesus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Encounters with whales, dolphins and penguins awaited; landscapes of icy expanses, towering cliffs and rolling green hills beckoned.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
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Researchers have been concerned that without their icy buttresses, these walls could collapse.—
Megan I. Gannon,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations and breaking news for USA TODAY.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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In Milan, Pietrantoni had just worked with a design studio on an installation with cold lighting, which was drawing interested crowds.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The vibes seemed extremely chill.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
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Things were generally chill for the next seven months — or at least status quo, meaning Kimmel would regularly bash the president and Republicans would regularly bash Kimmel.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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When the Royals suffered a walk-off loss in Cleveland in frigid temperatures on April 7, India went for a routine dive.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
5 May 2026
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Ukrainian troops pushed back a ferocious Russian offensive last fall, and their cities survived a frigid winter despite a Russian blitz on energy infrastructure.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The freeze watch is in effect from Wednesday night through Thursday morning as sub-freezing temperatures as low as 23 degrees are possible, according to NWS.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
-
That can look like a bathtub loaded with ice cubes, a leap into a freezing lake, a session at a dedicated cold-plunge studio or a DIY tank in the backyard.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The job market is showing intermittent signs of recovery after a bleak 2025.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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The outlook appeared so bleak that Alexey Miranchuk gestured to the heavens and said, if the team could acquire help from a higher power and get a road win, maybe the ship could be steered in the right direction.—
Amna Subhan,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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While Jaquez did not provide the eye-popping scoring of some of her teammates, the wing brought a cool effectiveness to the defensive side of the ball while tallying a pair of assists and a handful of deflections.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
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Pair white jeans with a black tee for timeless contrast, layer a white denim jacket with a flowy dress on spring days, or style white shorts and skirts with lightweight tops to stay cool all summer.—
Published,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chilly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chilly. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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