: gravely disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chilling
2 of 2present participle of chill entry 3
Synonyms
Examples of chilling in a Sentence
Adjective
a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter
Recent Examples on the Web
Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024
Several press freedom groups and media observers told The Hill this week ABC’s decision to settle with Trump could set a dangerous precedent and have a chilling effect on other media companies.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024
Ukraine’s killing of Kirillov will likely have a chilling effect among Russia’s elite, according to Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
—Anna Chernova, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
But even if such a legal strategy fails, Stern said, lawsuits can create a chilling effect because of the money and time media companies and journalists must spend fighting them.
—Elahe Izadi, arkansasonline.com, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chilling 
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Adjective
For observers who monitor First Amendment issues, the settlement will have a chilling effect.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024
Several press freedom groups and media observers told The Hill this week ABC’s decision to settle with Trump could set a dangerous precedent and have a chilling effect on other media companies.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024
Ukraine’s killing of Kirillov will likely have a chilling effect among Russia’s elite, according to Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
—Anna Chernova, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
But even if such a legal strategy fails, Stern said, lawsuits can create a chilling effect because of the money and time media companies and journalists must spend fighting them.
—Elahe Izadi, arkansasonline.com, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chilling
Dictionary Entries Near chilling
Cite this Entry
“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilling. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chilling
adjective
chill·ing
ˈchil-iŋ 
: very disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chillingly
adverb
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