chilling effect

American

noun

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

Etymology

Origin of chilling effect

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Shepard said the potential new law could be applied unevenly, and the language could have a chilling effect on investigative journalism.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

Beyond mortgage rates, it could also have a chilling effect on home purchases, a Redfin survey suggests.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

"This has had a chilling effect on my ability to conduct public interest journalism with source relationships damaged and, in some cases, destroyed."

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

The repression had a chilling effect on the demonstrations, but also gave Iranians another reason to oppose their theocratic rulers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

But never had a pariah had such a chilling effect on bringers of death.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023