cold sweat

noun

: concurrent perspiration and chill usually associated with fear, pain, or shock

Examples of cold sweat in a Sentence

The patient feels faint and is in a cold sweat.

I break out in a cold sweat when I think about asking my boss for a pay raise.

Recent Examples on the Web

Its technological advances and growing military strength are giving rivals cold sweats. —John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026

Its technological advances and growing military strength are giving rivals cold sweats. —ABC News, 13 June 2026

Alas, it was never meant to be, and Mountaineer fans still wake up in cold sweats thinking about this potential title that slipped through the cracks. —Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026

Just sitting down with the IRS makes some people break out in a cold sweat. —John Csiszar, CNBC, 22 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cold sweat

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• binet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

cold sweat

noun

: perspiration and chill occurring together and usually associated with fear, pain, or shock

Medical Definition

cold sweat

noun

: perspiration accompanied by feelings of chill or cold and usually induced or accompanied by dread, fear, or shock