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
  • Breaches are common and have been used strategically to set a standard, tit-for-tat style, of acceptable lower-level hostilities during the sensitive period.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • The recent military action tested an initial agreement that was supposed to halt hostilities during 60 days of negotiations.
    — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Definition of hostilities
Noun
  • Ryan argues in a June report by the Lowy Institute that future wars will reward militaries able to recognize battlefield change, absorb lessons and adapt faster than their opponents.
    — David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • The Iran and Gaza wars have thrown that absence and European strategic impotence into sharp relief.
    — Galip Dalay, Time, 7 July 2026
Definition of wars
Noun
  • Being able to work through conflicts can often result in an even stronger bond.
    — Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 July 2026
  • China has helped cushion the global oil shock, seen its clean energy tech exports surge and framed the war in Iran as another example in which Chinese leadership could supersede the US in ending global conflicts.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 1 July 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 9 Jul. 2026.

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