chilly

[chil-ee]

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

/ ˈtʃɪlɪ /

adjective

1. causing or feeling cool or moderately cold

2. without warmth; unfriendly

3. (of people) sensitive to cold

Other Word Forms

• chilliness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chilly¹

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

Synonym Study

See cold.

Example Sentences

Big picture: The jobs market has cooled off and even turned chilly after several years of rapid hiring following the pandemic.

Read more on MarketWatch

“You picked a chilly time of year to visit Switzerland, if you ask me,” Fredrick said in a jovial tone.

Read more on Literature

“There is no place more delightful than one’s own fireplace,” she read, and nodded in agreement, for the library had begun to get chilly now that afternoon was turning to dusk.

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I would help him pick out flat rocks to skip atop the chilly water cascading down the creek.

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Buffalo has its problems: iffy defense, offensive inconsistency, and turnovers, but QB Josh Allen remains a multithreat headache and a healthy Bills team on a chilly January afternoon is a menace.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• breezy 
• brisk 
• cool 
• crisp 
• freezing 
• frosty 
• icy 
• wintry