chilling effect

noun

1. a discouraging or deterring effect, especially one resulting from a restrictive law or regulation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chilling effect¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Shutting the center down added another chilling effect for church members.

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Even after Holmes’s conviction, venture capitalist Tim Draper, an early investor in Theranos, said he was alarmed about the case having a chilling effect on business.

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Gen. Rob Bonta noted that the memo listed various incidents of violence against Republicans while “deliberately ignoring” violence against Democrats, and said that while it is unclear what may come of the order, “the chilling effect is real and cannot be ignored.”

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For those who believe that free speech is under threat in the country, these figures can be used as evidence that decades of political correctness has had a chilling effect on people's ability to express their opinions.

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A chilling effect has fallen over Ohio’s public college campuses.

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