cold-water

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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

Use cold-water delicate settings, then air-dry or tumble dry with low heat. — Bridget Reed Morawski, Architectural Digest, 17 July 2026

These might be mineral water showers or baths, cold-water enemas, or just drinking 3 glasses of stinky, sulfurous spring water daily before breakfast, while strolling and engaging in pleasant conversation on a landscaped promenade. — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 9 July 2026

Noun

The lawsuit alleges he was held by his legs and dunked headfirst in a bucket of cold water contaminated with human feces. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026

The best option is to immerse a heat stroke victim in cold water. — Scott Neuman, NPR, 29 July 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