1
as in icy
having a low or subnormal temperature
a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frigid
lacking in friendliness or warmth of feeling
her glacial manner discouraged him from attempting further conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of glacial
Formed by glacial activity, the fertile landscape along the Grand River—soil rich in a mix of silt, clay and sand—is ideal for vineyards.
—
Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Progress, however, has been glacial.
—Kyle Stock, Bloomberg, 14 Apr. 2026
New York is built over marshes and creeks and glacial moraines that announce themselves in a storm.
—Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
He’s often frustrated by the glacial pace of government investigations.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for glacial
Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Progress, however, has been glacial.
—Kyle Stock, Bloomberg, 14 Apr. 2026
New York is built over marshes and creeks and glacial moraines that announce themselves in a storm.
—Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
He’s often frustrated by the glacial pace of government investigations.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for glacial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glacial
Adjective
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There could be as many as ~1017 icy, round objects in hydrostatic equilibrium in the Milky Way galaxy alone, most of which are likely not bound to a parent star at all.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
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What Happens in Your Brain During Ice Bath The instant icy water hits your skin, your brain’s stress system flips on.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The findings indicate that 3I/ATLAS, just the third interstellar object discovered passing through the solar system, formed in a much more frigid region of space compared to our planetary backyard.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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The water is frigid during the spring, but visitors can still relax on the shoreline and play in the sand at Napatree Point, Watch Hill Beach and East Beach, which boasts views of the easternmost end of New York’s Long Island.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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After several days of unseasonable warmth, freezing temperatures are expected overnight across parts of the Delaware Valley — a sudden swing that could impact both backyard plants and commercial crops.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Just five hours of sub-freezing temperatures is enough to take out crops.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations and breaking news for USA TODAY.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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In Milan, Pietrantoni had just worked with a design studio on an installation with cold lighting, which was drawing interested crowds.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If the morning is chilly, there’s breakfast in the orangery beneath the Roberto Ruspoli mural, beside a crackling fire.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Showers will be most numerous in coverage Saturday afternoon into Saturday night as temperatures fall into the 50s with a chilly easterly wind.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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What followed was a comprehensive guide to arctic vandalism.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
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In this video, CNN’s Jim Sciutto takes you to northern Alaska for an exclusive look at how the US Army is preparing for the next iteration of arctic warfare.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In celebration of Earth Day, Disney Parks has released an extremely chill 1-hour video tour of Living with the Land, its popular slow-moving boat ride in EPCOT at Walt Disney World.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
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Dress it up for work with a pair of polished trousers and a blazer, wear it to the gym or yoga class, or throw one on as comfy loungewear during chill weekends.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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On a cool Friday night at Audi Field, the Washington Spirit didn’t just win.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Yes, Barcelona comes across normally as a cool place, a vanguard city which everybody wants to visit.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Glacial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glacial. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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