1
as in icy
having a low or subnormal temperature
a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frigid
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
her glacial manner discouraged him from attempting further conversation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of glacial
Guests contrast bathe indoors and outdoors in pools filled with glacial meltwater overlooking the lake.
—
Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
Travelers chasing contrast bathing benefits should look for properties with both hot and cold options on site — geothermal pools paired with cold plunges, river access or glacial water.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 May 2026
For now, the progress in the SoFi discussions appears glacial.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 8 May 2026
Curated by Our Editors Such methods have revealed that as Antarctic ice sheets expanded during the last glacial maximum, sea ice got pushed farther offshore, forcing krill to move out of the petrels’ feeding ranges.
—Hannah Richter, Scientific American, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for glacial
Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
Travelers chasing contrast bathing benefits should look for properties with both hot and cold options on site — geothermal pools paired with cold plunges, river access or glacial water.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 May 2026
For now, the progress in the SoFi discussions appears glacial.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 8 May 2026
Curated by Our Editors Such methods have revealed that as Antarctic ice sheets expanded during the last glacial maximum, sea ice got pushed farther offshore, forcing krill to move out of the petrels’ feeding ranges.
—Hannah Richter, Scientific American, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for glacial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glacial
Adjective
-
Summer, for some, is the perfect excuse to sip icy dirty martinis on a city rooftop.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
14 May 2026
-
There’s been a fierce debate over the past two decades about the status of the distant icy world of Pluto after it was contentiously stripped of its planethood and reclassified as a dwarf planet.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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The casual-natured yet sharp staff seem genuinely happy to be working in frigid, off-grid Antarctica, and someone’s always around to fulfill a request, answer questions or engage in organic chit-chat in the main hub.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
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The thing is, if America (or any spacefaring nation) wants to establish a permanent presence on the moon—an inhabited station that can operate during the frigid and lengthy lunar night—solar power won’t cut it.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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Tropical hibiscus should be brought indoors when temperatures drop below about 55 degrees, while cold-hardy types like Rose of Sharon can tolerate freezing temperatures and overwinter outdoors in zones 5 to 9.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
14 May 2026
-
The snow gave way on Saturday to a freezing drizzle, but returned on Sunday and fell through the night.—
Dan Barry,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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There’s the youngest, most freewheeling son’s habit of swilling cold coffee while watching The Gong Show.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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Historically, extremely cold temperatures, near absolute zero, were used to put them in a quiet state, which required bulky and expensive systems.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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This could come as something of a shock to people who have been shivering under sweaters and blankets during an unusually chilly spring.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Mixing textures on indoor-outdoor furniture and a rolling bar cart makes this porch suited for any time of the year, including those chilly autumn nights when living in the mountains is so magical.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Due to Silfra’s arctic water temperatures of 35 degrees Fahrenheit, we were required to wear warm thermals as our base layer.—
Carinne Geil Botta,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
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In this case, the brutal arctic winds met Peter I Island, which spun them into these striking shapes.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Can a Yellowstone spinoff that’s more about those calm, chill moments find an audience?—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
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The vibes seemed extremely chill.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
5 May 2026
Adjective
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On a cool, drizzly day in Oakland, California, the film director Boots Riley often seemed less like a person than like a landmark—clockable from a distance.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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When the air conditioner is on, the driver’s side vent is cold, the rear is cool, but the front passenger side vent is blowing hot air.—
John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Glacial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glacial. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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