chilly

Examples

• All

• "I wouldn't say I miss you," he answers in a chilly tone.

  Fiction book (2001)

• "Now be a good soldier and sit at the table," was the somewhat chilly reply.

  Fiction book (1992)

• I'm getting a chilly reception.

  High Hopes (2006)

• For their part, at least some Iranians took note of this chilly behavior.

  Academic text (2010)

• The White House responded in a chilly manner to the report that called for more governmental spending.

  Academic text (1991)

• The English had all been very polite, but below the politeness was a chilly aloofness.

  Fiction book (1997)

• Clara tried for dignity and achieved a chilly sound she didn't know she had in her repertoire.

  Fiction book (1993)

• The superior smile on Quentin Walker's face shifted into a chilly sneer.

  Fiction book (2000)

• After his harsh words, I felt a chilly distance growing between us.

• The atmosphere at the meeting was chilly, leaving many feeling unwelcome.

Synonyms

C

cold

vschilly

883 4.4

Unfriendly and distant in feeling or action

is more about distant feeling rather than complete unemotional absence

I

icy

vschilly

22 3.3

Cold and unfriendly in tone or manner

is emotionally distant but less intensely hostile or harsh

F

frosty

vschilly

9 3.6

Unfriendly and showing little warmth towards other people

is emotionally distant but can be less openly hostile

F

frigid

vschilly

8 5.2

Not friendly or warm in how someone acts

is about emotional distance rather than formal unwelcoming severity

G

glacial

vschilly

4 7.5

Very cold and unfriendly in the way someone behaves or looks

is distant emotionally but not as sharply disdainful

C

coldhearted

vschilly

4 6.0

Showing no care or sympathy for other people

is about distance and lack of warmth rather than absence of compassion

C

cold as ice

vschilly

• Informal

4 7.2

Not showing any feeling or kindness to others

is emotionally distant but not necessarily utterly without feeling

S

stone-cold

vschilly

1 4.1

Very cold with no warmth left

is emotionally distant but not necessarily totally without warmth

F

frozen

vschilly

5.1

Not warm or friendly in manner

is more about emotional distance rather than open disdain

C

cold as charity

vschilly

• Archaic

9.9

Acting kind but not showing real care

is about general emotional distance rather than harsh lack of compassion

C

cold as a witch's kiss

vschilly

• Literature

9.9

Showing no warmth or feeling

is emotionally distant but less dramatically unapproachable

I

icily cold

vschilly

4.7

Very low in temperature and clearly unfriendly

is emotionally distant but usually less harsh or severe

S

subzero

vschilly

5.5

Very cold in behavior, showing no warmth or friendliness

is distant emotionally but may retain some warmth or feeling

Antonyms

F

friendly

773 1.0

Kind and helpful toward other people

W

warmhearted

1 3.7

Kind and friendly to other people

Compounds

C

chilly climate

2.3

A place with cold or cool weather most of the year

How Friendly

friendly

773 1.0

chilly

16 3.5

reserved

3.7

cold

883 4.4

hostile

194 4.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology