1
: suggestive of ice: such as
a
: extremely cold : frigid
a glacial wind
b
: devoid of warmth and cordiality
a glacial handshake
c
: coldly imperturbable
maintained a glacial calm
2
: of a purity marked by the tendency to readily solidify in the form of ice-like crystals
glacial acetic acid
3
a(1)
: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time from Precambrian onward when a much larger portion of the earth was covered by glaciers than at present
(2)
capitalized
: pleistocene
b
: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers
c
: suggestive of the very slow movement of glaciers
progress on the bill has been glacial
Examples of glacial in a Sentence
Progress on the bill has been glacial.
a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend
Recent Examples on the Web
The 25-kilometer glacial valley boasts superb outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and mountain biking.
—
Daria Bachmann, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2025
Chinese exporters will not sit still while Washington negotiates, especially given the glacial pace of past talks.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
While pursuing a thawing of glacial relations with the Kremlin—monitored with alarm by many of America's allies—Trump has sidestepped piling fierce criticism on Russia while appearing to leverage Kyiv to the negotiating table by briefly cutting off military aid and U.S. intelligence.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
The juvenile colossal squid and the glacial glass squid, called Galiteuthis glacialis, appear similar, with both having hooks at the end of their two longer tentacles and transparent bodies.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glacial
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Daria Bachmann, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2025
Chinese exporters will not sit still while Washington negotiates, especially given the glacial pace of past talks.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
While pursuing a thawing of glacial relations with the Kremlin—monitored with alarm by many of America's allies—Trump has sidestepped piling fierce criticism on Russia while appearing to leverage Kyiv to the negotiating table by briefly cutting off military aid and U.S. intelligence.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
The juvenile colossal squid and the glacial glass squid, called Galiteuthis glacialis, appear similar, with both having hooks at the end of their two longer tentacles and transparent bodies.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glacial
Cite this Entry
“Glacial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacial. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
glacial
adjective
gla·cial
ˈglā-shəl 
1
a
: extremely cold : frigid
b
: lacking warmth of feeling
2
a
: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers
b
: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time when a large portion of the earth was covered by glaciers
c
capitalized
: pleistocene
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