: gravely disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
Examples of chilling in a Sentence
a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter
Recent Examples on the Web
The filmmaker’s dad was the great Anthony Perkins who of course played the unforgettable and nightmarish Norman Bates in Hitchcock’s chilling 1960 classic, Psycho.
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Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 July 2024
Illustrate the chilling reality — that a rogue Supreme Court is working as an arm of Trump’s conservative agenda — and ask them to promise to vote in November.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 July 2024
For most Americans President Joe Biden’s performance was a chilling experience to observe.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2024
Legal experts say the ruling could have a chilling effect on ambitious federal rulemaking, which will now be subject to a federal judiciary filled with Trump appointees.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for chilling 
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 July 2024
Illustrate the chilling reality — that a rogue Supreme Court is working as an arm of Trump’s conservative agenda — and ask them to promise to vote in November.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 July 2024
For most Americans President Joe Biden’s performance was a chilling experience to observe.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2024
Legal experts say the ruling could have a chilling effect on ambitious federal rulemaking, which will now be subject to a federal judiciary filled with Trump appointees.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for chilling
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chilling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near chilling
Cite this Entry
“Chilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilling. Accessed 15 Jul. 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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