cold wave

noun

1

: an unusually large and rapid drop in temperature over a short period of time (such as 24 hours)

2

: a permanent wave set by a chemical preparation without the use of heat

Synonyms of cold wave

• cold
• freeze

Examples of cold wave in a Sentence

the unseasonable cold wave in the Northeast has already put a strain on oil supplies

Recent Examples on the Web

Polar vortex ends 'false spring' Not every cold wave is tied to the polar vortex, but this one is, AccuWeather said. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026

In Minneapolis, protesters converged at the scene of the shooting in Minneapolis despite dangerously cold weather — by the afternoon the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but the temperature was still -6 degrees (-21 Celsius). —Jack Brook, Fortune, 25 Jan. 2026

At Saturday midday, the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but the temperature was still 6 degrees below zero. —Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026

At midday Saturday, the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but the temperature was still -6 degrees (-21 Celsius). —Jack Brook, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cold wave

• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• shortwave
• aftershave