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
  • Brent’s price zigzagged between $72 and $102 last month as hopes rose and fell that the United States and Iran could reach an agreement to end hostilities and the threat to oil tankers in the strait.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, argued the war was over with a ceasefire and that hostilities then resumed.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostilities
Noun
  • The treaty has endured three wars and prolonged periods of diplomatic tensions but has come under increasing strain in recent years.
    — Sam Meredith,Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Kitchen has seen some properties pushed even higher than that as sales frequently turn into bidding wars.
    — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of wars
Noun
  • Unfortunately, its determination to recreate its predecessor’s personal conflicts and revelations, along with its narrative twists and turns, slightly hamstrings what is otherwise an extremely effective thrill ride, especially on the big screen.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
  • When Russia’s full-scale invasion breaks out, his mother and sister flee Ukraine and join him, bringing with them family conflicts and feelings of guilt that distance cannot silence.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Sep. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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