hot wars

noun

plural of hot war
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups fortunately, the cool relationship between the two nations never escalated into a hot war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 hot wars There are hot wars in Ukraine and Gaza, cold wars on the Korean peninsula and in the Taiwan Strait, and budding wars in Iran and parts of Africa. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot wars
  1. hostilities
  2. wars
  3. conflicts
Noun
  • The Navy has used the cessation of hostilities to restock ships with munitions and supplies, completing a significant replenishment of weapons for the USS George Washington last week.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
  • That action comes as part of a broader regional war in the Middle East that began when the United States and Israel attacked Iran in February 2026—and Iran has drawn up plans to potentially attack undersea cables if hostilities ramp up once again.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostilities
Noun
  • The focal point of every Remembrance Day is the Cenotaph in Whitehall, the Portland stone monument where tribute is paid to those who fell in the wars and conflicts in which the country has participated.
    — Amaia Odriozola, Vanity Fair, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Yet, analysts mostly say that the rearmament boom is structural, and even an end to wars in Ukraine and Iran won't derail it.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of wars
Noun
  • Namibia is a participant in the Kimberley Process, an international certification system established in 2003 to prevent rough diamonds from financing armed conflicts.
    — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Nvidia’s employee code of conduct addresses potential conflicts involving personal relationships.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of conflicts

Browse Nearby Words

hot war
hot wars
hot water
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Cite this Entry

“Hot wars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20wars. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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