bone-chilling

adjective

bone-chill·​ing ˈbōn-ˌchi-liŋ How to pronounce bone-chilling (audio)
: intensely cold
bone-chilling weather
also : penetrating, disturbing, or intense in emotional or physical effect
bone-chilling drama
a bone-chilling wind

Examples of bone-chilling in a Sentence

we stood in line for hours in the bone-chilling weather
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Armed with her signature razor-sharp wit and deadpan charm, Wednesday is also plunged into a new bone-chilling supernatural mystery. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025 When New York City faces Code Blue weather — those bone-chilling days when temperatures drop below freezing — everything gets slower, harder, and more dangerous for both firefighters and civilians. Andrew Ansbro, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025 After bone-chilling cold, warm weather on deck for most of the US Above-average temperatures will dominate much of the U.S. beginning this weekend and continuing into next week, melting snow and bringing reprieve from the dangerous cold for many, Weather.com said. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025 Once a player finds a few pieces of warm clothing, even the most bone-chilling wind could be shrugged off without a second thought. Issy Van Der Velde, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bone-chilling

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bone-chilling was in 1861

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bone-chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bone-chilling. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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