heat 1 of 2

noun

Definition of heatnext
1
as in intensity
depth of feeling informed the doctor, with considerable heat, that she had been kept waiting for three hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gun
slang a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder a private detective packing heat

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3
as in police
slang a body of officers of the law he thought he was so slick, but the heat was onto him in no time

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heat

2 of 2

verb

ˈhēt How to pronounce heat (audio)
as in to warm
to cause to have or give off heat to a moderate degree heat water for tea heat the oven to 350 degrees before you put the cake in

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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 heat
Noun
Ensure the stain is fully gone before drying—once heat sets it in, removal becomes significantly harder. — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 1 July 2026 For decades, oceans have acted as the planet’s main heat sink, absorbing 90% of the excess heat produced by humans burning fossil fuels. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Verb
According to the governor’s office, people who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because of their tendency to retain more body heat. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026 More than 5,700 deaths were also attributed to heat during an exceptionally hot summer last year. — John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for heat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heat
  1. intensity
  2. gun
  3. police
  4. warm
  5. emotion
  6. firearm
  7. constabulary
  8. enthusiasm
Noun
  • As the moon and Pluto align, your aura of intensity magnifies.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Rather than simply assembling the most talented roster possible, Taylor said JHX is prioritizing players who understand the tournament’s intensity and have experienced the disappointment of coming up short.
    — Latif Love July 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of intensity
Noun
  • Consulting a design on a computer screen, the workers arranged the numbered pieces — from 14 inches to 12 feet long — into a grid on an oversize worktable and attached them with rapid nail gun blasts.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • The foundation helped raise more than $200,000 to pay off school lunch debt for students, gave out turkeys to families during the holidays and provided resources to those impacted by gun violence.
    — Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
Definition of gun
Noun
  • The leader is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and has authority over the national police and morality police.
    — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Paramedics took the child to the hospital, where the toddler died, Grace Mariot, a police spokeswoman, said.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of police
Verb
  • Other low-income counties in New Mexico, a state with many of the country's fastest-warming cities, show similarly low AC use.
    — Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The terrain is rocky, with vineyards clinging to steep limestone slopes, simultaneously warmed by the sun and cooled by salty Adriatic breezes.
    — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
Definition of warm
Noun
  • The coach also praised his players for keeping their emotions in check after the red card and other decisions by the officiating crew.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • Some stars receive a hero’s welcome, while others encounter mixed emotions after leaving in free agency.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of emotion
Noun
  • He has been charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm.
    — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
  • Law enforcement later searched two locations in connection with the investigation into Hidrogo including a storage facility in Fort Worth where officers found 244 kilograms of meth with a purity level of 100 percent and more firearms.
    — Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026
Definition of firearm
Noun
  • Several British constabularies have added EVs to their fleets for urban policing duties, often using models such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, Nissan Leaf and the BMW i3.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 8 Mar. 2026
  • The local constabulary said the British Transport Police was leading the investigation.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Definition of constabulary
Noun
  • Despite the crypto down market, Securitize is riding a wave of enthusiasm for tokenization as Wall Street increasingly experiments with blockchains.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Neon wisely positioned itself as the exact right home for that enthusiasm with an inventive promotional tour that included, among other stops, a free gas giveaway.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
Definition of enthusiasm

Phrases Containing heat

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hearty
heat
heated
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Cite this Entry

“Heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heat. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heat

Nglish: Translation of heat for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heat

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