cold war

noun

1
: a conflict over ideological differences carried on by methods short of sustained overt military action and usually without breaking off diplomatic relations
specifically, often capitalized C&W : the ideological conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the second half of the 20th century compare hot war
2
: a condition of rivalry, mistrust, and often open hostility short of violence especially between power groups (such as labor and management)

Examples of cold war in a Sentence

the era of the Cold War the cold war between the party's more liberal and conservative members
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Since that gathering in March, what had been a cold war has gone hot. Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025 Nicki Minaj and Cardi’s confusing cold war sparked tributary disputes with Ice Spice, JT from the City Girls, and Boston’s Bia. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025 Wright and Cooke both lean right into the emotionally heightened madness of it all, especially as Laura and Cherry’s cold war turns extremely, violently hot. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025 The border cold war finally thawed, and over the next decade-plus the schools slowly renewed acquaintances in several sports, including men’s basketball. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cold war

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cold war was in 1909

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cold war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold%20war. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

cold war

noun
: a struggle over political differences (as of two nations) carried on by methods short of war and usually without breaking off diplomatic relations

More from Merriam-Webster on cold war

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!