chilling
Making your blood freeze
Chilling describes something that causes fear or dread—a cold sensation running through the body: a chilling account of the massacre, chilling implications for democracy.
The connection to cold is metaphorical; fear makes us feel cold.
Separately, chilling is the relaxed present participle of chill: We're just chilling at home.
Extremely frightening, viscerally
- hair-raisingExtremely frightening or alarming
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- horrifyingCausing extreme fear
- creepyDisturbingly strange
eerie · sinister · menacing · foreboding · haunting · unsettling · disturbing · macabre
Extremely cold
- frostbiteFreezing of body tissue
- shiveringInvoluntary bodily trembling
- hypothermiaDangerously low body temperature
- shiverInvoluntary trembling sensation
goosebumps · windchill · subzero · biting · numbing · bitter · brisk · nippy
Reclining in idleness
- unwindingReleasing coiled tension
- veggingIdling passively, mentally absent
- decompressingReleasing built-up tension
- mellowingGradually becoming softer
lazying · idling · downtime · Netflix · couch · low-key · vibing · easy-going
Keeping cold mechanically
- freezingExtremely cold
- deep-freezeUltra-cold storage unit
- cryogenicsUltralow temperature science
- iceboxCold food storage chest
frozen · vacuum-packing · curing · pickling · brining
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- coerciveUsing pressure to compel
- silencingStopping noise or dissent
- suppressingForcibly restraining or inhibiting
deterring · discouraging · dissuading · hostile · aggressive · warning · cautioning · dampening
Heat removal for preservation
- air-conditioningMechanical indoor cooling
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
- fanAdmirer or air mover
- breezeLight, gentle air movement
thermostat · coolant · radiator · condensation · evaporation
blood-curdling
Extremely frightening, viscerally
- hair-raisingExtremely frightening or alarming
- terrifyingEvoking extreme fear
- horrifyingCausing extreme fear
creepy · eerie · sinister · menacing · foreboding · haunting · unsettling · disturbing · macabre · ghastly
freezing
Extremely cold
- frostbiteFreezing of body tissue
- shiveringInvoluntary bodily trembling
- hypothermiaDangerously low body temperature
shiver · goosebumps · windchill · subzero · biting · numbing · bitter · brisk · nippy · raw
lounging
Reclining in idleness
- unwindingReleasing coiled tension
- veggingIdling passively, mentally absent
- decompressingReleasing built-up tension
mellowing · lazying · idling · downtime · Netflix · couch · low-key · vibing · easy-going · laid-back
refrigerating
Keeping cold mechanically
- freezingExtremely cold
- deep-freezeUltra-cold storage unit
- cryogenicsUltralow temperature science
icebox · frozen · vacuum-packing · curing · pickling · brining
menacing
Conveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- coerciveUsing pressure to compel
- silencingStopping noise or dissent
suppressing · deterring · discouraging · dissuading · hostile · aggressive · warning · cautioning · dampening · stifling
refrigeration
Heat removal for preservation
- air-conditioningMechanical indoor cooling
- ventilationCirculation of fresh air
- fanAdmirer or air mover
breeze · thermostat · coolant · radiator · condensation · evaporation
- activitiesbowling, climbing, exercise, eating, baking
- idle timekilling time, passing time, wasting time, whiling away, doing nothing
- idlenessdoing nothing, idling, loafing, lounging, lazing
- slang behaviorsgoofing off, messing around, fooling around, horsing around, slacking
- cooling actionsfreezing, refrigerating, icing, fanning, ventilating
- cooling downrelaxing, unwinding, calming, rest, meditation
chillingreassuring
Restoring calm or confidence
comforting · heartwarming · soothing · calming · uplifting
- chilling outCasually resting or loafing
- bone chillingProfoundly unsettling or frigid
- chilling to the boneIntensely, pervasively freezing
- chilling effectDiscouragement through intimidation
- spine chillingIntensely frightening or eerie
- chilling talesFrightening fictional narratives