cold wave

noun

Definition of cold wavenext
as in cold
a weather condition marked by low temperatures the unseasonable cold wave in the Northeast has already put a strain on oil supplies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cold wave In Minneapolis, the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but protesters calling for ICE to leave Minnesota on Saturday still faced an outdoor temperature of minus 6 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 21 Celsius). — Thomas Peipert, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026 There are two cold waves that will begin to push toward Colorado between now and the weekend. — Dave Aguilera, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026 Deadly snowstorms and cold waves have hammered the eastern third of the country. — Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 5 Jan. 2026 Travelers and residents should stay informed about forecast changes, particularly as storm tracks and cold wave durations remain uncertain. — Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cold wave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold wave
  1. cold
  2. freeze
Noun
  • At 12,800 feet, Montana's tallest mountain is prone to unpredictable weather including dangerous lightning storms and bitter cold.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 30 July 2026
  • Perreault-Magny, a father of a toddler, said he's seen mothers carrying infants through the woods, their feet wrapped in aluminum foil to stave off the winter's cold.
    — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of cold
Noun
  • After an overnight freeze, all that’s left to do is slice and serve.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2026
  • The transfer freeze comes as the club’s owner, Saudi’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), moves to address a financial crisis at the club, whose debts now exceed 800 million riyals ($213 million), according to Arriyadiyah.
    — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of freeze

Browse Nearby Words

cold wars
cold wave
coleader
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cold wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20wave. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All