cold war
noun
1
: a conflict over ideological differences carried on by methods short of sustained overt military action and usually without breaking off diplomatic relations
specifically,
often Cold War
: the ideological conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the second half of the 20th century compare hot war
2
: a condition of rivalry, mistrust, and often open hostility short of violence especially between power groups (such as labor and management)
Examples of cold war in a Sentence
the era of the Cold War
the cold war between the party's more liberal and conservative members
Recent Examples on the Web
Not just because Cubans could get online, but also because Cuba and the United States had reestablished diplomatic relations, ending decades of cold war, and the news attracted foreign media attention to the island.
—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
Xi Jinping is angling to win a cold war with the United States.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Per a source, that cold war continued through the offseason.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
And that means that if the hot war ends, but Iran ends up in another cold war, that would be as fatal to the regime as the continuation of the hot war.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cold war
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Abraham Jiménez Enoa, The Dial, 19 May 2026
Xi Jinping is angling to win a cold war with the United States.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Per a source, that cold war continued through the offseason.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
And that means that if the hot war ends, but Iran ends up in another cold war, that would be as fatal to the regime as the continuation of the hot war.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cold war
Cite this Entry
“Cold war.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold%20war. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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