1
: suggestive of ice: such as
a
: extremely cold : frigid
a glacial wind
b
: devoid of warmth and cordiality
a glacial handshake
c
: coldly imperturbable
maintained a glacial calm
2
: of a purity marked by the tendency to readily solidify in the form of ice-like crystals
glacial acetic acid
3
a(1)
: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time from Precambrian onward when a much larger portion of the earth was covered by glaciers than at present
(2)
capitalized
: pleistocene
b
: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers
c
: suggestive of the very slow movement of glaciers
progress on the bill has been glacial
Synonyms
Examples of glacial in a Sentence
Progress on the bill has been glacial.
a glacial weather front coming down from Canada will bring freezing temperatures this weekend
Recent Examples on the Web
The site provides evidence that periods between substage glacial advances were long enough for forests to develop, the DNR says.
—
Patti Zarling, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024
About 100 victims of Larry Nassar, the former doctor convicted of abusing hundreds of teen gymnasts over the course of decades, will get $100 million from the U.S. Department of Justice over the FBI’s glacial investigation that allowed the assaults to continue.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2024
With national identity so closely linked to communal heritage, the pace of change tends to be gradual, if not glacial.
—Daniel Finn, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2019
The law, known as NAGPRA, mandated any collection that receives federal funding return human remains and other sacred pieces to tribes — though some museums and universities have moved at a glacial pace.
—Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for glacial 
Patti Zarling, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2024
About 100 victims of Larry Nassar, the former doctor convicted of abusing hundreds of teen gymnasts over the course of decades, will get $100 million from the U.S. Department of Justice over the FBI’s glacial investigation that allowed the assaults to continue.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2024
With national identity so closely linked to communal heritage, the pace of change tends to be gradual, if not glacial.
—Daniel Finn, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2019
The law, known as NAGPRA, mandated any collection that receives federal funding return human remains and other sacred pieces to tribes — though some museums and universities have moved at a glacial pace.
—Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for glacial
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glacial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near glacial
Cite this Entry
“Glacial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glacial. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
glacial
adjective
gla·cial
ˈglā-shəl 
1
a
: extremely cold : frigid
b
: lacking warmth of feeling
2
a
: of, relating to, or produced by glaciers
b
: of, relating to, or being any of those parts of geologic time when a large portion of the earth was covered by glaciers
c
capitalized
: pleistocene
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share