hot seat

noun

1
slang : electric chair
2
: a position of uneasiness, embarrassment, or anxiety

Examples of hot seat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The initial two might’ve put Tang on the proverbial hot seat. Sam McDowell February 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Feb. 2026 Steve Sarkisian is not on any hot seat by a long shot. Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026 The Giants have had four since 2018, and general manager Schoen is on a blazing-hot seat. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Jan. 2026 John Harbaugh can throw some coolant on his new hot seat; Mike Tomlin can salvage his migraine of a season. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hot seat

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hot seat was in 1925

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Cite this Entry

“Hot seat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20seat. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

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