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
New York has a perverse way of amplifying a dispute over a half-acre lot into a protracted cold war.
—
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 23 June 2025
In addition, there are at least two notable cold wars, between the U.S. and China, and between the U.S. and Iran.
—John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Orson Welles’s 1955 cold war thriller Mr. Arkadin is the key to Wes Anderson’s psychological puzzle The Phoenician Scheme.
—Armond White, National Review, 30 May 2025
The outcome of the Geneva talks was a temporary de-escalation of a wide-ranging cold war that is in fact much bigger than trade.
—John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold war
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Justin Davidson, Curbed, 23 June 2025
In addition, there are at least two notable cold wars, between the U.S. and China, and between the U.S. and Iran.
—John Dorfman, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Orson Welles’s 1955 cold war thriller Mr. Arkadin is the key to Wes Anderson’s psychological puzzle The Phoenician Scheme.
—Armond White, National Review, 30 May 2025
The outcome of the Geneva talks was a temporary de-escalation of a wide-ranging cold war that is in fact much bigger than trade.
—John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold war
Cite this Entry
“Cold war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold%20war. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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