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.
In recent years, comedians have found themselves in hot water for making politically incorrect topics about everything from race to gender.James Hohmann

Examples of hot water in a Sentence

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.
Run the load on a warm-to-hot water cycle. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Oct. 2025 Not running your dishwasher with hot water regularly can lead to damage resulting from excess buildup and debris settling at the bottom of the dishwasher. Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025 As Mercury and Pluto clash, snooping in someone’s business lands you in hot water. Usa Today, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025 The dock takes care of the gross stuff with hot water mop washing, self-cleaning, and warm-air drying, so you’re not left scrubbing dirty pads by hand. PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hot water

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hot water was in 1840

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hot water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20water. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

hot water

noun
: a distressing situation : trouble
in hot water for not doing my chores

More from Merriam-Webster on hot water

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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