: gravely disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chilling
2 of 2present 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
Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
In their Tuesday ruling, Eleventh Circuit Judges Robin Rosenbaum and Nancy Abudu agreed with the lower court’s findings that the ban was unconstitutionally vague and created a chilling effect on free speech.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 15 May 2025
Blending cozy and hard-boiled, classic and contemporary, McDowell explores plant-loving detectives, poisonous plots and sinister settings, showing how gardening continues to inspire mystery writers and their most chilling tales.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Event Horizon tells the chilling supernatural tale of a rescue vessel investigating a missing spaceship that reappears near Neptune after a seven-year absence.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for chilling
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Adjective
The feared chilling effect on consumption, if any, would be limited to imports.
—Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
In their Tuesday ruling, Eleventh Circuit Judges Robin Rosenbaum and Nancy Abudu agreed with the lower court’s findings that the ban was unconstitutionally vague and created a chilling effect on free speech.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 15 May 2025
Blending cozy and hard-boiled, classic and contemporary, McDowell explores plant-loving detectives, poisonous plots and sinister settings, showing how gardening continues to inspire mystery writers and their most chilling tales.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
Event Horizon tells the chilling supernatural tale of a rescue vessel investigating a missing spaceship that reappears near Neptune after a seven-year absence.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for chilling
Cite this Entry
“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilling. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chilling
adjective
chill·ing
ˈchil-iŋ 
: very disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chillingly
adverb
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