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 Flemings, like Peterson a one-and-done player in college, had 14 points on chilly 4-of-16 shooting. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026 Great white sharks have been spotted more frequently in the chilly waters of New England and Atlantic Canada, according to conservation groups. — Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 The program’s popularity belies the chilly reception the proposal initially received. — Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2026 The Bet on the North Pays Off Alpha Estate’s story in Amyndeon PDO region began with a decision to invest in a region that was chilly, remote, and not widely understood. — Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 29 June 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
  • Made-from-scratch cheesecake doesn’t seem so hard when made as cupcakes where there’s no water bath, springform pan, and long chilling time required.
    — Brennan Long, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
  • Bell on Wednesday reaffirmed his support for Florida’s institutional neutrality policies, which discourages university leaders from taking official positions on political issues in an effort to avoid chilling debate among students and faculty.
    — Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
Definition of chilling
Adjective
  • Multiple moons in the outer solar system — Saturn's Enceladus and Jupiter's Europa, for example — host big liquid-water oceans beneath their icy shells.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 July 2026
  • From aqua suede to icy satin, from stilettos to ballet flats and beach-ready sandals, whatever your bridal style calls, for there’s a pair of blue shoes to match.
    — Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 2 July 2026
Definition of icy
Adjective
  • Next to him, the waters of Lincoln’s Sinking Spring still ran cold.
    — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • If time doesn’t allow for spa treatments, a morning swim in the indoor pool accompanied by a sauna and cold plunge in one of their two thermal suites might suffice.
    — Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • The 25, also non-chill filtered, is bottled at 47 percent ABV (94 proof), and that higher proof goes a long way to unlocking the flavor here.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 24 June 2026
  • It was bottled at 43% ABV and is non-chill filtered.
    — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of chill
Adjective
  • But experts say the optimal temperatures are far from frigid.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • But that’s not how exhaustion typically works during a seventeen-hour climb in frigid weather.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of frigid
Adjective
  • If freezing temperatures are predicted, pick any ripe fruit and cover the trunks of young trees with burlap or newspaper to insulate them.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 July 2026
  • The injured climber couldn’t continue, forcing the pair to spend a freezing night on the mountain with limited supplies.
    — James Ward, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of freezing
Adjective
  • Houssem Aouar finally spied a gap in the Austrian defence and sent Mahrez through to score, sparking jubilation before Sasa Kalajdzic’s header confirmed a ridiculous ending to a game that was dramatic, bleak and then dramatic again.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Kehoe pointed to the state’s bleak finances in a statement explaining his cuts on Tuesday.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • The fabric feels cool against my skin and never sticks or clings, even on warmer nights.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • Of course, when training in heat and humidity, staying hydrated is critical as well as attempts to stay as cool as possible when training during hot temperatures.
    — Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 6 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of chilly for Spanish Speakers

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