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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

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.

On a chilly morning, at a petrol station not far from Culiacán, Pulido and a group of other mothers hugged each other before setting out on a search.

From BBC

The air was still chilly, but at least I could breathe without my tongue freezing.

From Literature

He slipped out of a Zodiac boat and shot a few photos as he bobbed in the chilly sea.

From The Wall Street Journal

It will also no doubt stop her getting chilly on the red carpet.

From BBC

Friday is expected to be dry but cold, with the possibility of some morning frost in the valleys as temperatures remain chilly.

From Los Angeles Times