chilling
adjective
chill·ing ˈchi-liŋ 
: gravely disturbing or frightening
a chilling case of abuse
chillingly
ˈchi-liŋ-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- bitter
- bleak
- chill
- chilly
- nipping
- nippy
- raw
- sharp
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter
Recent Examples on the Web The chilling effect for victims who are not believed in the face of facts can be profound. 
Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 The crackdown has had a chilling effect in a country where the government has jailed nearly 200 politicians, business professionals, student leaders, social activists, and journalists over the past year. BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 But the ruling could have a chilling effect on solar energy development in Missouri, just as the federal government is trying to encourage it. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2022 Certainly, the over two years that teachers endured during virtual learning and then back to school, with extreme conditions faced by many, certainly had a chilling effect on many. CBS News, 14 Aug. 2022 Either step could have a chilling effect on Coinbase’s future listing decisions, while its overseas competitors would have fewer constraints on their growth. Gregory Zuckerman, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 Based on a novel of the same title by Alberto Moravia, the film is a chilling psychological portrait of a secret policeman in Fascist Italy. New York Times, 17 June 2022 That summer, the deposition from Constand’s civil suit was unsealed, its contents revealing a chilling portrait of Cosby as a calculating predator who used sedatives in his relentless pursuit of young women. Jessica M. Goldstein, The New Republic, 1 July 2021 While fame has expanded her awareness of the way the world works, it’s having a chilling effect on her personal life. Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 July 2022 See More
Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 The crackdown has had a chilling effect in a country where the government has jailed nearly 200 politicians, business professionals, student leaders, social activists, and journalists over the past year. BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 But the ruling could have a chilling effect on solar energy development in Missouri, just as the federal government is trying to encourage it. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2022 Certainly, the over two years that teachers endured during virtual learning and then back to school, with extreme conditions faced by many, certainly had a chilling effect on many. CBS News, 14 Aug. 2022 Either step could have a chilling effect on Coinbase’s future listing decisions, while its overseas competitors would have fewer constraints on their growth. Gregory Zuckerman, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 Based on a novel of the same title by Alberto Moravia, the film is a chilling psychological portrait of a secret policeman in Fascist Italy. New York Times, 17 June 2022 That summer, the deposition from Constand’s civil suit was unsealed, its contents revealing a chilling portrait of Cosby as a calculating predator who used sedatives in his relentless pursuit of young women. Jessica M. Goldstein, The New Republic, 1 July 2021 While fame has expanded her awareness of the way the world works, it’s having a chilling effect on her personal life. Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1815, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing chilling
Kids Definition
chilling
adjective
chill·ing ˈchi-liŋ
: very upsetting or frightening
But nearly every book mentioned one chilling story … Ann M. Martin, Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation
Ann M. Martin, Baby-sitters' Winter Vacationchilling 1 of 2
adjective
as in chill
uncomfortably cool a Southern visitor who was unused to the chilling air of a Northeast winter Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- chill
- chilly
- bleak
- bitter
- cold
- freezing
- icy
- brisk
- frigid
- nipping
- raw
- crisp
- sharp
- nippy
- bracing
- arctic
- invigorating
- shivery
- frosty
- numbing
- wintry
- frozen
- glacial
- ice-cold
- rigorous
- subzero
- polar
- subfreezing
- coolish
- snappy
- refrigerated
- wintery
- iced
- frosted
- unheated
- frore
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- warm
- balmy
- tepid
- lukewarm
- heated
- warmed
chilling
2 of 2verb
1
as in freezing
to cause to lose heat chill the gelatin for two hours, until it sets Synonyms & Similar Words
- freezing
- refrigerating
- cooling
- frosting
- quick-freezing
- supercooling
- ventilating
- air-conditioning
- icing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- heating
- warming
- boiling
- steaming
- toasting
- baking
- broiling
- tempering
- microwaving
- heat-treating
2
as in relaxing
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety you want to hang out with us and just chill this weekend? Synonyms & Similar Words
- relaxing
- resting
- unwinding
- decompressing
- composing
- hanging loose
- winding down
- de-stressing
- basking
- lounging
- chilling out
- comforting
- loosening up
- cooling
- calming
- settling
- idling
- lazing
- loafing
- lolling
- unbending
- mellowing (out)
- reposing
- droning
- bumming
- relieving
- dillydallying
- alleviating
- dawdling
- vegetating
- kicking back
- quieting
- dallying
- easing
- footling
- zoning out
- vegging out
- hacking (around)
- hanging (around or out)
- goofing (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tensing (up)
3
as in discouraging
to lessen the courage or confidence of investors chilled by the floundering economy Synonyms & Similar Words
- discouraging
- unnerving
- frightening
- frustrating
- horrifying
- dispiriting
- disheartening
- intimidating
- dismaying
- daunting
- troubling
- scaring
- worrying
- demoralizing
- saddening
- distressing
- unmanning
- throwing cold water on
- depressing
- browbeating
- afflicting
- weighing
- cowing
- bullying
- bothering
- trying
- undermining
- debilitating
- deadening
- enfeebling
- dampening
- weakening
- vexing
- damping
- irking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- encouraging
- invigorating
- cheering
- reinforcing
- enlivening
- enforcing
- strengthening
- emboldening
- reassuring
- stirring
- heartening
- exciting
- nerving
- animating
- steeling
- assuring
- stimulating
- provoking
- fortifying
- galvanizing
- lifting
- inspiring
- gladdening
- energizing
- boosting
- reenforcing
- buoying (up)
- quickening
- rallying
4
as in lounging
to spend time doing nothing instead of going out tonight, let's stay in and chill Synonyms & Similar Words
- lounging
- relaxing
- resting
- idling
- lazing
- playing
- strolling
- loafing
- lingering
- bumming
- poking
- droning
- lolling
- dillydallying
- lazying
- dawdling
- messing
- killing time
- kicking back
- mucking
- hanging about
- footling
- vegging out
- dozing
- twiddling one's thumbs
- dallying
- hibernating
- kicking around
- piddling
- hacking (around)
- monkeying
- estivating
- sauntering
- loitering
- goofing (off)
- hanging (around or out)
- trifling
- lagging
- ambling
- fooling
- moseying
- aestivating
- swanning
- goldbricking
- tarrying
- fiddling (around)
- pottering (around)
- malingering
- puttering (around)
- truanting
- furloughing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sweating
- working
- grinding
- laboring
- plugging
- plowing
- plodding
- hustling
- toiling
- slaving
- humping
- grubbing
- pegging
- applying
- buckling (down)
- drudging
- exerting
- moiling
- travailing
- putting out