as in popularity
the state of enjoying widespread approval
the phenomenal hotness of the movie's stars is the driving force behind all of the advance publicity
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Recent Examples of hotness
In 2026, complexity is old and busted, and simplified zonal systems are the new hotness.
—
Byron Hurd, The Drive, 19 Feb. 2026
Natalie Erika James throws a bunch of great ideas into her fem-horror riff on body dysmorphia, shame and the tireless quest for physical perfection in a culture obsessed with youthful hotness — following in the path of The Substance and Ryan Murphy’s latest dollop of high-gloss trash, The Beauty.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
At the center of the fun is a drug called the Beauty, which can transform the ugliest duckling into the loveliest swan but after a while develops the unfortunate side effect described above, making hotness literal.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Exploration isn’t always easy, after all, in a culture that expects women to fit conventional notions of hotness—and to please everyone else.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026
Such hotness is in the eye of the beholder.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
But hotness isn’t only aesthetics.
—Caroline Rothstein, InStyle, 30 Dec. 2025
Duplenticy’s tattoo serves a similar function, signaling both his hotness and his capacity for change.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
The result isn’t always an easier character for the actor to pull off, but removing the Hollywood hotness factor provides an opportunity for at-home audiences to fully immerse themselves in the story.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2025
Byron Hurd, The Drive, 19 Feb. 2026
Natalie Erika James throws a bunch of great ideas into her fem-horror riff on body dysmorphia, shame and the tireless quest for physical perfection in a culture obsessed with youthful hotness — following in the path of The Substance and Ryan Murphy’s latest dollop of high-gloss trash, The Beauty.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026
At the center of the fun is a drug called the Beauty, which can transform the ugliest duckling into the loveliest swan but after a while develops the unfortunate side effect described above, making hotness literal.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Exploration isn’t always easy, after all, in a culture that expects women to fit conventional notions of hotness—and to please everyone else.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026
Such hotness is in the eye of the beholder.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
But hotness isn’t only aesthetics.
—Caroline Rothstein, InStyle, 30 Dec. 2025
Duplenticy’s tattoo serves a similar function, signaling both his hotness and his capacity for change.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025
The result isn’t always an easier character for the actor to pull off, but removing the Hollywood hotness factor provides an opportunity for at-home audiences to fully immerse themselves in the story.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hotness
Noun
-
The group exploded in popularity in September 2025 as Midway Blitz swept through the region.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
-
The national parks are one of the few remaining truly bipartisan issues on Capitol Hill due to their immense popularity with voters.—
Garrett Downs,Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Osmon notes that critics called the music working-class rock before heartland rock came into vogue; the terms are sometimes treated as interchangeable, but heartland rock is in much wider use.—
Jack Hamilton,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
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That’s also the trademark of Courtney (Balenciaga) Washington, a choreographer from the worlds of competition dance and vogue ballrooms.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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More recently, nearby Shasta County has become a hotbed of election denialism and MAGA politics, with its Board of Supervisors voting in 2023 to end the use of Dominion Voting Systems machines in favor of pursuing a hand-counting system.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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Among the commenters in favor was DJUSD Board President Hiram Jackson.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Combining functionality with fashionability, while maintaining Vuori’s sleek silhouettes, simple embellishments and a quiet color palette.—
Kaio Cesar,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hotness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hotness. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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