as in chilly
uncomfortably cool
a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in freezing
to cause to lose heat
chill the gelatin for two hours, until it sets
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relaxing
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
you want to hang out with us and just chill this weekend?
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3
as in discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of
investors chilled by the floundering economy
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4
as in lounging
to spend time doing nothing
instead of going out tonight, let's stay in and chill
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chilling
Laura Yuen, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
There has been a chilling effect within our newsroom.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2026
The film builds toward a chilling psychological reckoning that forces Venus to confront the cost of survival — and what happens when the part of you that kept you alive refuses to let go.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilling
Adjective
These interactions with agents are almost as chilling as footage of their violent tactics.
—Laura Yuen, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
There has been a chilling effect within our newsroom.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Bone-chilling weather is expected this weekend, with temperatures struggling to reach the 20s across most of the area and multiple mornings with wind chills below minus 10 degrees.
—Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2026
The film builds toward a chilling psychological reckoning that forces Venus to confront the cost of survival — and what happens when the part of you that kept you alive refuses to let go.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chilling
Adjective
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Whether it's been a few days or a few years, a forkful of liver and onions will always deliver a dose of nostalgia—after all, this was the recipe so many Southern grandmas made to keep warm and fortified on an unseasonably chilly day.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
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The light wooden furniture, cosy space and Mediterranean menu offers a pleasant respite from the chilly damp of London’s winter.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The below-freezing temperatures in Metro Detroit are especially hard on people who are homeless.—
Julia Avant,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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The Memphis area is not expected to get above freezing temperatures for multiple days, so the snow on the ground and on roadways might hang around for a while.—
Brooke Muckerman,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The best lounge sets work for more than just relaxing around the house.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
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Cooking and baking are relaxing ways to unwind, try something new and inevitably reap the benefits of the — sweet or savory — break from the digital world.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The challenge for executives is to create organizational conditions that encourage these productive patterns while discouraging the seductive but self-defeating path of full automation.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
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In the spirit of discouraging intimacy pre-engagement, courting couples did not use each other's first names—at least, not in public.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For running errands, working out, or lounging around the house, grab these best-selling joggers that are even backed by dance instructors.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
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Mobs of kangaroos and wallabies are easy to spot lounging in open fields during golden hours.—
Laura Kiniry,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Pairing well with pizza, Piggy Pop is the perfect bottle for a ‘Netflix and chill’ Valentine’s date.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The whiskey is non-chill filtered.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To pay for climate resiliency projects, Porter, a former member of Congress, proposed turning to artificial intelligence companies with data centers that require lots of energy, as well as water for cooling, and other companies that use more resources.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Temperatures Sunday are forecast to top out at 54 degrees before cooling down to 36 degrees overnight, according to the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office.—
Suryatapa Chakraborty,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mack and the Chargers’ defense pressured quarterbacks Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, frustrating them and keeping them out of their comfort zones.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
20 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chilling. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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