HOT WARS Synonyms: 26 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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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 hostilities began as a month-long student movement over school conditions and teacher shortages in working-class suburbs before broadening into a larger protest movement against inequality, public spending cuts and the rising cost of living.

— Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Although the correlation between daily prices has been insignificant, cotton prices and Brent crude prices have followed a similar general pattern since the outbreak of hostilities around Iran.

— SJ Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of hostilities

Noun

Erik Prince and his private security teams were contracted by the US government during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, most remembered for Blackwater employees opening fire in Baghdad’s Nusoor Square, killing 17 Iraqi civilians.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
The march against wars and rising living costs began peacefully.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of wars

Noun

Although the strategic consequences of their actions may ultimately benefit Iran in its own regional and international conflicts, the Houthis see their military campaign against Saudi Arabia chiefly as an act of national defense.

— Laurent Bonnefoy, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Many of those executed were arrested in Derna and Benghazi cities during or after conflicts between the LNA and opposing armed groups between 2014 and 2018, according to the Wednesday report.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of conflicts

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hot war

hot wars

hot water

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

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Synonyms of hot wars

noun

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