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
This ends up getting rid of chilly drafts— saving buyers from having to turn on the heating.
—
Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
The number one best-selling sweatshirt features a boxy fit and large hood to keep you comfortable amid the chilliest winter temperatures.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
The couple, both avid backpackers and hikers, trained for nine months in Sacramento, California, for the chilly climb.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
As chilly days and nights take hold on winter, the best wool blankets are the ultimate accessories for cozy bundling.
—Kristine Hansen, Architectural Digest, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilly
Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
The number one best-selling sweatshirt features a boxy fit and large hood to keep you comfortable amid the chilliest winter temperatures.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 8 Jan. 2026
The couple, both avid backpackers and hikers, trained for nine months in Sacramento, California, for the chilly climb.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
As chilly days and nights take hold on winter, the best wool blankets are the ultimate accessories for cozy bundling.
—Kristine Hansen, Architectural Digest, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chilly
Adjective
-
Threatening retirees’ ranks and pensions, which took a lifetime to earn, has a chilling effect.—
Michael Szalma,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
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However, apple trees require proper chilling hours to break dormancy and produce fruit.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Add in snow piles that narrow the shoulders, chain controls, and icy roads, and delays are just part of the Tahoe travel experience.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The look is finished off with an icy translucent rubber outsole.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The slick material keeps chafing to a minimum during workouts, and the brushed inside is so soft against the skin and helps keep cold air out and your body heat in.—
Olivia Dubyak,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
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The heating coils are wrapped tightly and distributed evenly throughout the throw, providing consistent warmth without noticeable cold spots.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The vibe is chill and quiet, with an accompanying playlist.—
Julia Sayers Gokhale,
Midwest Living,
9 Jan. 2026
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Use 2- to 2 1/2-inch star cookie cutters to cut out shapes, rerolling scraps as needed (if necessary, chill scraps before rerolling).—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Zelenskyy said that Russia was aiming to take advantage of the frigid weather in the capital, which made roads and streets icy.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Plunging directly in the frigid lake via holes carved in the ice.—
Julia Sayers Gokhale,
Midwest Living,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Farther north, snow dusted Bologna and gave skiers in the Dolomites reason to cheer, though freezing temperatures are forecast for much of the north and central part of the peninsula over the coming days.—
Mike Corder,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Scenes from outside the federal building included opposing demonstrations, with some voicing support for Maduro and many others who bundled up in the freezing weather to applaud his arrest.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Her family later learned that on April 23, 2021 — the day Parker found his aunt in a bleak mood — Dee had an angry confrontation over financial issues with two employees of the trucking company.—
Christine Pelisek,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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Some of Tarr’s most memorable scenes feature landscapes, often bleak and despairing settings of decaying Hungarian towns, punctuated with close-ups of characters’ faces.—
John Penner,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Having no cool aunt of my own and no elder sisters, just teenage babysitters and camp counselors (each with their own unique but tenuous grasp on anatomy and reproductive science), the book felt warm, inviting, and—perhaps most important to my terrified, bleeding, self—safe.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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The porous polymer coating that reflects up to 97 percent of sunlight and radiates heat into the air, keeping surfaces up to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air even under direct sun.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chilly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chilly. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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