chilly

adjective

ˈchi-lē How to pronounce chilly (audio)
Definition of chillynext
1
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool those chilly nights when a warm fire can be especially comforting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in icy
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling a chilly glare directed at the person who tried to go to the head of the line

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cold
having a low or subnormal temperature a chilly spring morning

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of chilly The chilliest option on this list, ice diving at Ultima Hotel Courchevel is a thrilling, health-boosting, and mood-enhancing water experience. — Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026 This weekend, daytime highs in Eureka will be in the mid-to-upper 60s — cooler even than San Francisco, so famed for its chilly summers. — Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Believe it or not music festivals can become quite chilly once the sunsets which means smart layering can save you from shivering all night. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 30 July 2026 As folks in the West Bay – aka San Francisco – can attest, this month can be supremely chilly and fog-shrouded. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for chilly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chilly
  1. chilling
  2. icy
  3. cold
  4. chill
  5. frigid
  6. freezing
  7. bleak
  8. cool
Adjective
  • Those words have taken on a chilling resonance as commenters debate whether Hilton deserves sympathy.
    — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Thalidomide’s failure had a chilling effect on progress toward a treatment.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of chilling
Adjective
  • Perseid shooting stars appear as Earth enters the debris trail cast off by the icy comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The Arctic, often seen as merely a remote, icy landscape, actually plays a central role in regulating the planet’s climate.
    — Daniel Peck, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of icy
Adjective
  • Health benefits Peppermint oil is widely used as pain relief, digestive aid and cold relief.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Eldridge’s home run, a solo shot, was the latest exhibition of his game-changing power, an opposite-field, 423-foot blast that cleared the left-center field fence on a cold San Francisco (50-70) night with feet to spare.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • According to the company, corn is sourced primarily within 100 miles of the distillery, and the whiskey receives minimal non-chill filtration before bottling.
    — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Make sure to choose an apple variety suited to your climate, as apples also need a certain number of chill hours to make fruit.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2026
Definition of chill
Adjective
  • Roq Innovation Raquel Graham dreamed up NEKZ, a scarf alternative, when her children resisted wearing them during Chicago’s frigid winters.
    — Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • There are infrared heaters under the seating areas to keep fans comfortable in the frigid Buffalo winters.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of frigid
Adjective
  • Elective egg freezing was considered experimental until about 2013, when freezing techniques improved.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Some of them walked down a long path outside, and lowered themselves gingerly into the freezing waters of the fjord.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of freezing
Adjective
  • Things get increasingly bleak, as the family dog’s heart medicine runs out and Jason has to put him out of his misery, and then — in doomsday prepper mode — carves up the body and puts it in the freezer just in case food gets dire.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The article highlights a bleak outlook for young neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with intersecting identities, facing significant structural barriers in the job market.
    — Nancy Doyle, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • The bestselling Long Sleeve Mock Neck Top is an ultra-soft, feather-light, breathable, and cool to the touch flattering quarter zip style.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • One is cool, calm, collected, and joyful, while the other spews profanities and insults.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of cool

Browse Nearby Words

chills out
chilly
chime
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Cite this Entry

“Chilly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chilly. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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