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Synonyms

chilly

American  
[chil-ee] / ˈtʃɪl i /

adjective

chillier, chilliest
  1. mildly cold or producing a sensation of cold; causing shivering; chill.

    a chilly breeze.

  2. feeling cold; sensitive to cold.

    Her hands were chilly.

  3. without warmth of feeling; cool.

    a chilly reply.

  4. producing or likely to produce a feeling of fear; frightening.

    He told a chilly story of ghosts and murder.


adverb

  1. Also chillily in a mildly cold manner.

    The wind blew chilly.

chilly British  
/ ˈtʃɪlɪ /

adjective

  1. causing or feeling cool or moderately cold

  2. without warmth; unfriendly

  3. (of people) sensitive to cold

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See cold.

Other Word Forms

  • chilliness noun

Etymology

Origin of chilly

First recorded in 1560–70; chill + -y 1

Explanation

Did someone leave a window open? It's chilly in here! That word means "cold," and it can also mean that someone's acting in a frosty way. The main meaning of chilly is cold, but this word is often used for emotions too, just like "warm." A warm person is loving and kind, but a chilly person is unemotional, distant, and quiet. Chilly people are often called "aloof" — another word for someone who's not acting like a people person. "After you turned them in for cheating on their homework, they gave you a chilly reception."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing chilly

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.

But on a bright chilly morning in a Toronto area -- one of three districts holding special elections next week to fill parliamentary seats -- some said Carney's sparkling credentials had not delivered tangible results.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

Young graduates have faced a particularly chilly job market in recent years as interest rates rose and companies pulled back on a pandemic-era hiring spree.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Faced with a chilly house, some users might then dial up the power on their heat pump - but if you do that, much of the efficiency advantage fritters away, he says.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

On a chilly October morning last year in Memphis, Tenn., a federal agent watched as a dark-colored Mazda SUV pulled into the parking lot of Evolve Bank & Trust.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

The wind blew chilly on their cheeks, and they walked back to the pasture in front of Sinchi’s small home.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova