heat wave

noun

Definition of heat wavenext
as in dog days

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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 wave Temperatures look to stay below 90 degrees in the Philadelphia region for your Tuesday, meaning our sixth heat wave will likely come to an end. — Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 Europe is contending with another heat wave this week, as soaring temperatures raise the risk of wildfires, threaten crops and dry watersheds that feed the region’s waterways, including the Rhine, Danube and Po. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 And in Europe, officials said that there were more than 10,000 excess deaths during the continent’s record-breaking heat wave in June. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 During a heat wave, air conditioners drive demand upward just as high temperatures can reduce the efficiency of power plants and transmission equipment. — Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heat wave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heat wave
heat
Noun
  • Liquid crystal elastomers are useful for these applications, because their molecular structure can change in response to stimuli such as heat.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The Little Rock Zoo will adjust its hours for the remainder of August because of potentially dangerous heat conditions.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of heat

Browse Nearby Words

heat-treats
heat wave
heave
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Cite this Entry

“Heat wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heat%20wave. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heat wave

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heat wave

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