hot war

noun

Synonyms of hot warnext
: a conflict involving actual fighting compare cold war

Examples of hot war in a Sentence

fortunately, the cool relationship between the two nations never escalated into a hot war
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The United States has powered through a change of power in Washington, a trade war, a hot war with Iran, a sharp round of monetary tightening, and an extended government shutdown without the engine giving out. Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026 Yet deliberate hot war still ranks as the least likely of the five traps, because nuclear arsenals and deep commercial ties make escalation catastrophically expensive for both governments. Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2026 Russia, on the other hand, is in a hot war with Ukraine. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026 But against the backdrop of a hot war between Israel and Iranian proxy Hezbollah, Aoun declined the call. Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hot war

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hot war was in 1947

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hot war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20war. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

hot war

noun
: a conflict involving actual fighting
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