chilling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈchi-liŋ How to pronounce chilling (audio)
Definition of chillingnext
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chilling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of chill
1
as in freezing
to cause to lose heat chill the gelatin for two hours, until it sets

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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chilling
Adjective
Blown up for a movie-theater screen, what may have once played as a chilling enactment of justice is now more likely to receive rollicking laughter from its audience, so theatrical is Hansen’s moralizing. — Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026 The song, a chilling rocker with dense guitar riffs that lurk in the distance, serves as the end title to Lance Oppenheim’s crime thriller. — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
After all, the threat of punishing a school for signing a player could have the effect of chilling a market for that player and thereby harm him. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2026 This isn’t André 3000’s first time chilling with Scoob and the gang. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chilling
  1. chilly
  2. freezing
  3. relaxing
  4. discouraging
  5. lounging
  6. chill
  7. cooling
  8. frustrating
Adjective
  • The 100% cotton waffle blanket is the perfect end-of-the-bed layer when the nights get chillier.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Chihuahua, Mexico Spring 1983 Filming out in the Chihuahuan Desert is actually chilly in the morning, but when the sun comes up, the heat is unreal.
    — Kyle Maclachlan, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of chilly
Verb
  • The plan includes changes to pension rules, freezing public sector wages and limiting health care costs.
    — Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The filing also says that public interest favors freezing the deal until the Supreme Court considers the case.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of freezing
Verb
  • If location isn’t all-important to you, you’ll still be taken in by the property’s palatial restaurant, secret garden above the bustling street, and relaxing pool—undoubtedly one of the longest in Lisbon.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than relaxing on his lead, Becerra should be constantly moving around the state, introducing himself to Californians and — more importantly — listening to their problems and ideas.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of relaxing
Verb
  • In response, Cobb County police plan to increase patrols on and around the holiday and other departments are discouraging participation.
    — Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Higher mortgage rates aggravate the problem by discouraging many existing homeowners from selling.
    — Sheldon H. Jacobson, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of discouraging
Verb
  • Above that, the expansive upper deck offers lounging areas, sunbeds, a bar, and a Jacuzzi.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2026
  • If lounging by the water gets old, the resort runs a wide range of complimentary activities, from yoga sessions to an aloe scrub–making class.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of lounging
Adjective
  • The group’s trademark sense of space, room for the sax, Sandman’s voice, and ear candy like acoustic guitar, echoey cymbals, and distant piano, and their uniquely chill sense of melody take cente rstage on the song.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The Asics Gel-SlowCush prioritizes comfort while being recommended for recovery runs, low-intensity training or merely chill jaunts.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of chill
Verb
  • Its executive said the company also manages water for chip production, power and cooling in AI infrastructure.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Festival organizers announced Wednesday that there would be numerous cooling stations, fans and water bottle fill stations around Discovery Park, as the weekend is expected to be a scorcher.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of cooling
Verb
  • But Algo’s hyper-logical, computerised process of consistently picking the favourites to win was undone in the second match of the day, with Ghana frustrating England in a 0-0 draw.
    — The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Definition of frustrating

Browse Nearby Words

chilliness
chilling
chilling out
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Cite this Entry

“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chilling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chilling

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