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heat 1 of 2

noun

Definition of heatnext
1
as in intensity
depth of feeling informed the doctor, with considerable heat, that she had been kept waiting for three hours

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gun
slang a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder a private detective packing heat

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3
as in police
slang a body of officers of the law he thought he was so slick, but the heat was onto him in no time

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heat

2 of 2

verb

ˈhēt How to pronounce heat (audio)
as in to warm
to cause to have or give off heat to a moderate degree heat water for tea heat the oven to 350 degrees before you put the cake in

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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 heat
Noun
Kherson will not be able to rely on its remaining heat and power plant this winter, Tolokonnikov said. — David Brennan, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026 During Iowa’s season opener, third-year Hawkeye Marching Band member Derek Phillips suffered cardiac arrest in sweltering heat and died three days later. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 14 Sep. 2026 This black hole would pull gas around it, dramatically heating it and pushing light and energy outward, which would keep the outer layers of hydrogen from collapsing inward. — Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heat
  1. intensity
  2. gun
  3. police
  4. warm
  5. emotion
  6. firearm
  7. constabulary
  8. enthusiasm
Noun
  • But that drop in intensity quickly veered into carelessness, with the defence failing to assert its composure amid loose passes and hapless communication mix-ups.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Local dimming and backlight zone control help manage brightness independently across different parts of the screen, allowing darker areas to appear deeper while bright highlights stand out with greater intensity.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of intensity
Noun
  • Weiss ruled that the open-carry arrest alone wasn’t evidence the gun was used irresponsibly.
    — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
  • As the dust settles, John flees, but Zoe comes with a gun to finish off Hal in the rubble.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of gun
Noun
  • Earlier this year, Johnson ordered Chicago police to collect evidence for possible felony charges against agents.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Based on the preliminary investigation, police believe the shooting occurred in a patio area and at least one adult was present at the time, Calzada said.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of police
Verb
  • Italy, Spain and other European countries experienced extreme temperatures in the world’s fastest-warming continent.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The Environmental Protection Agency is abandoning federal limits on planet-warming pollution from coal and gas power plants, dismantling most Biden-era climate rules in the name of lowering energy costs.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of warm
Noun
  • Trauma and tragedies—such as the death of his parents, or periods of estrangement from his siblings—receive less scrutiny than the emotions unlocked by Virginia Woolf or Roland Barthes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The bursts of comedy don’t lighten the mood, but instead sharpen the emotion and clarify the intensity, the way a shrewd joke might at a funeral.
    — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of emotion
Noun
  • Officers also found several large shipping boxes containing precious metals, two unregistered firearms, and more than $105,000 in cash, according to the sheriff’s department.
    — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • We are introduced to Celeste at target practice with her impressive arsenal of firearms, which get suspiciously little play once the action finally arrives.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of firearm
Noun
  • Meanwhile, police forces across the country have transformed from lightly armed constabularies to small-scale armies.
    — Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Several British constabularies have added EVs to their fleets for urban policing duties, often using models such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, Nissan Leaf and the BMW i3.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Definition of constabulary
Noun
  • The convention -- part rally, part fundraiser -- comes as Republicans try to boost enthusiasm heading into the final stretch before Election Day.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The move was sure to spark criticism that the president was paying Americans to vote Republican as the party struggles to match Democrats’ enthusiasm and faces a challenging midterm outlook.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of enthusiasm

Phrases Containing heat

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hearty
heat
heated
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Cite this Entry

“Heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heat. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heat

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