chilling

1 of 2

adjective

chill·​ing ˈchi-liŋ How to pronounce chilling (audio)
: gravely disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chillingly adverb

chilling

2 of 2

present participle of chill entry 3

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
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.
Adjective
In one particularly chilling scene, Matthews gives a rousing rally speech that had to be delivered with conviction by Hoult. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024 Nevertheless, experts note that Patel's approach might focus on using civil lawsuits or laws like the Espionage Act to target leakers of classified information, a tactic not directly implicating press freedoms but potentially chilling journalistic activity. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024 Directed by Gibson Hazard, the video is both a cinematic and chilling masterpiece that displays how gun violence affects the community. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 5 Dec. 2024 And as that powerful industrialist, Guy Pearce is chilling. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chilling 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chilling was in 1815

Dictionary Entries Near chilling

Cite this Entry

“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilling. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

chilling

adjective
chill·​ing ˈchil-iŋ How to pronounce chilling (audio)
: very disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chillingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on chilling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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