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
This lack of detailed measurements meant that future changes due to climate variability and glacial melt were not factored into the treaty’s design, nor were factors such as groundwater depletion, water pollution from pesticides, fertilizer use and industrial waste.
—
Fazlul Haq, The Conversation, 25 Apr. 2025
Made with glacial water and local botanicals, the beers are an extension of the same ethos—craft, connection, and a deep reverence for place.
—Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
On a previous Falkor (too) expedition, scientists also recorded a live glacial glass squid (Galiteuthis glacialis) in its natural environment for the first time.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
The footage, taken at 2254 feet, showed the transparent glacial glass squid with its arms loosely above its head, similar to the cockatoo pose commonly observed in other glass squids.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glacial
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Fazlul Haq, The Conversation, 25 Apr. 2025
Made with glacial water and local botanicals, the beers are an extension of the same ethos—craft, connection, and a deep reverence for place.
—Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
On a previous Falkor (too) expedition, scientists also recorded a live glacial glass squid (Galiteuthis glacialis) in its natural environment for the first time.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
The footage, taken at 2254 feet, showed the transparent glacial glass squid with its arms loosely above its head, similar to the cockatoo pose commonly observed in other glass squids.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 18 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 29 Apr. 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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