: 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
Sara Fischer, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
On the morning of Dec. 26, 1996, John and Patsy Ramsey discovered their daughter JonBenét was missing along with a chilling note.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
The dual proposals of a mass deportation and allowing local law enforcement to arrest those in the country illegally could have a chilling effect not only on immigrants in the country legally but also businesses looking to move to Arizona, Graham said.
—Emily Wilkins, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
Mars took a chilling photo of Carolyn Bryant, a thin, pale brunette with dark lipstick and sharp eyebrows, sitting cross-armed in the gallery, looking smug.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chilling 
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Adjective
The bottom line: Trump's most dangerous weapon against the media is his words, which press freedom advocates have warned do have a significant chilling effect both at home and abroad.
—Sara Fischer, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
On the morning of Dec. 26, 1996, John and Patsy Ramsey discovered their daughter JonBenét was missing along with a chilling note.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
The dual proposals of a mass deportation and allowing local law enforcement to arrest those in the country illegally could have a chilling effect not only on immigrants in the country legally but also businesses looking to move to Arizona, Graham said.
—Emily Wilkins, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024
Mars took a chilling photo of Carolyn Bryant, a thin, pale brunette with dark lipstick and sharp eyebrows, sitting cross-armed in the gallery, looking smug.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 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 21 Nov. 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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