chillier; chilliest
1
: noticeably cold : chilling
a chilly day
2
: unpleasantly affected by cold
chilly spectators
3
: lacking warmth of feeling : unfriendly
a chilly reception
4
: tending to arouse fear or apprehension
chilly suspicions
Synonyms
Examples of chilly in a Sentence
It's a little chilly outside.
You must be chilly without a coat on.
They gave him a chilly reception.
Recent Examples on the Web
And the chilly breeze on an overcast April day in Detroit is nothing compared to the historical headwinds of playing quarterback in Chicago — and the icy blowback if things don’t go as planned.
—
Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
The chilly, oxygen-rich environment allows for large sizes, and the impetus to efficiently capitalize on available food, and to avoid being eaten, may pressure life to attain those dimensions.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chilly 
Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
The chilly, oxygen-rich environment allows for large sizes, and the impetus to efficiently capitalize on available food, and to avoid being eaten, may pressure life to attain those dimensions.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chilly
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chilly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Chilly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chilly. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chilly
adjective
chillier; chilliest
1
: noticeably cold
2
: unpleasantly affected by cold
3
: not friendly
a chilly response
chilliness
noun
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