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)
Glacial
: 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 Jungfrau Region is situated in the Bernese Highlands, an area in southwest Switzerland that's known for its glacial lakes, waterfalls, and stunning valleys.
—
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
Exploration cruises On exploration cruises, programming centers on expert presentations relevant to the region, such as shark mating rituals in Oceania and glacial melt in Antarctica.
—Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
The long-ago loss of ice and upward motions in West Antarctica also triggered massive rock avalanches and landslides in fractured, damaged rock, forming glacial valley walls and coastal cliffs.
—Keiji Horikawa, The Conversation, 22 Dec. 2025
Even up here, in this glacial valley, Nima is a celebrity.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glacial
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Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2025
Exploration cruises On exploration cruises, programming centers on expert presentations relevant to the region, such as shark mating rituals in Oceania and glacial melt in Antarctica.
—Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
The long-ago loss of ice and upward motions in West Antarctica also triggered massive rock avalanches and landslides in fractured, damaged rock, forming glacial valley walls and coastal cliffs.
—Keiji Horikawa, The Conversation, 22 Dec. 2025
Even up here, in this glacial valley, Nima is a celebrity.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 22 Dec. 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 31 Dec. 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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