glacial

adjective

gla·​cial ˈglā-shəl 

1

: suggestive of ice: such as

a

: extremely cold : frigid

a glacial wind

b

: devoid of warmth and cordiality

a glacial handshake

c

: coldly imperturbable

maintained a glacial calm

2

: of a purity marked by the tendency to readily solidify in the form of ice-like crystals

glacial acetic acid

3

a(1)

: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time from Precambrian onward when a much larger portion of the earth was covered by glaciers than at present

(2)

capitalized : pleistocene

b

: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers

c

: suggestive of the very slow movement of glaciers

progress on the bill has been glacial

glacially

ˈglā-shə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• algid
• arctic
• bitter
• bone-chilling
• chill
• chilly
• cold
• coldish
• cool
• coolish
• freezing
• frigid
• frosty
• gelid
• ice-cold
• icy
• nipping
• nippy
• numbing
• polar
• shivery
• snappy
• wintry
• wintery

Examples of glacial in a Sentence

Progress on the bill has been glacial.

a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend

Recent Examples on the Web

This photo is on of a series taken from a light aircraft and captures the blue waters of braided blue glacial rivers flowing into lakes from the high mountains of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025

Wildlife viewing is just one element of the customizable all-inclusive itineraries that can also incorporate canyoneering, glacial immersions, heli experiences, archery, and equestrian adventures. —Kathryn Romeyn, AFAR Media, 16 May 2025

This phenomenon, which makes the ground rise in some areas and sink in others, is called glacial isostatic adjustment. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025

Data from the last Ice Age show signs that glacial meltwater repeatedly pulsed into the North Atlantic. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 14 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin glacialis, from glacies

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for glacial

• facial
• racial
• spacial
• spatial
• bifacial
• biracial
• palatial
• postglacial
• preglacial
• subglacial
• craniofacial
• interfacial

Kids Definition

glacial

adjective

gla·​cial ˈglā-shəl 

1

a

: extremely cold : frigid

b

: lacking warmth of feeling

2

a

: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers

b

: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time when a large portion of the earth was covered by glaciers

c

capitalized : pleistocene