: gravely disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chilling
2 of 2present participle of chill entry 3
Examples of chilling in a Sentence
Adjective
a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter
Recent Examples on the Web
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
Third, the chilling requirement of four to five hundred hours — the number of winter hours below 45 degrees needed for flowering to occur — eliminates much of Los Angeles as an appropriate locale for nut production.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
While the pair shows genuine care for each other, their differing approaches to defending their father’s seat intensifies throughout the film to a chilling peak.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
While the matzo ball mixture is chilling, place a rack in top third of oven; preheat to 450°.
—Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilling
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Adjective
There was something icy and chilling in Rodgers’s tone.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
Third, the chilling requirement of four to five hundred hours — the number of winter hours below 45 degrees needed for flowering to occur — eliminates much of Los Angeles as an appropriate locale for nut production.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
While the pair shows genuine care for each other, their differing approaches to defending their father’s seat intensifies throughout the film to a chilling peak.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
While the matzo ball mixture is chilling, place a rack in top third of oven; preheat to 450°.
—Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilling
Cite this Entry
“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilling. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chilling
adjective
chill·ing
ˈchil-iŋ 
: very disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chillingly
adverb
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