cold-water

1 of 2

adjective

cold-wa·​ter ˈkōld-ˌwȯ-tər 

-ˌwä-

: having only running water without heat or utility services provided

a cold-water flat

cold water

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noun

: depreciation of something as being ill-advised, unwarranted, or worthless

threw cold water on our hopes

Examples of cold-water in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Allied attributed the result partly to on-site solar power, cold-water detergents and a reclamation system that recirculates 95 percent of the plant’s water. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

Optimal Transit specifically claims DOT can slash that cold-water pipe by 70%, which, if demonstrated, would be a very big deal. — New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026

Noun

Higher yields can pour cold water on consumers’ ability and confidence to purchase big-ticket items. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Political and business leaders poured cold water on calls from AI giants to slow the pace of technological development, while the prospects of a US-China detente looked slim. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1942, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1808, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cold-water

• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater
• granddaughter
• groundwater
• headwater