hot wars

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

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 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
Noun
  • The accord called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a halt to hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 22 June 2026
  • The Israeli military killed at least 47 people in strikes across southern Lebanon on Friday, in the second deadliest day since hostilities flared in early March.
    Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
Noun
  • One consequence of the ensuing wars was the emergence of a new, anti-sectarian, pacifist element in Dutch religious life.
    Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
  • While drones have introduced groundbreaking changes to how wars are fought on earth, the ability to wield them alongside other weapons largely depends on reach from space.
    Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Clients should understand whether the advisor is legally obligated to put their interests first, how conflicts are disclosed and whether recommendations are shaped by commissions, proprietary products or outside incentives.
    Bob Chitrathorn, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • These conflicts raged on through the pandemic, when the country was generally going insane, and in 2022, when President Joe Biden exercised his right to appoint a new chair, Rios took what was in effect a thankless cleanup job.
    Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hot wars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot%20wars. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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