hot water
noun
: a difficult or dangerous situation : trouble entry 1 sense 4
—used with in or into
But this poor fellow was always getting into hot water, and if there was a wrong way of doing a thing, was sure to hit upon it.—
Richard Henry Dana, Jr.
Richard Henry Dana, Jr.In recent years, comedians have found themselves in hot water for making politically incorrect topics about everything from race to gender.—James Hohmann
James HohmannExamples of hot water in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
It’s been a while, but Radko Gudas is back in hot water with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Fill the trash can about 2/3 full with hot water, or up to the rim if it's soiled near the top.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The venue’s frequent financial troubles — and its continued reliance on empathetic fans for support — have landed its owners in hot water yet again.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
At these levels, water enters a supercritical phase and can carry up to five times more energy than standard hot water.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot water
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James Mirtle, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Fill the trash can about 2/3 full with hot water, or up to the rim if it's soiled near the top.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The venue’s frequent financial troubles — and its continued reliance on empathetic fans for support — have landed its owners in hot water yet again.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
At these levels, water enters a supercritical phase and can carry up to five times more energy than standard hot water.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot water
Cite this Entry
“Hot water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20water. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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