cold war

noun

Definition of cold warnext
as in world 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 cold war 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 The theory posited that wars in the post-cold war era would be fought along religious divides, bringing the West and the Islamic states such as Iran to clash. — Debidatta A. Mahapatra, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026 Swedish pop star Zara Larsson is apparently locked in a cold war with one user who keeps swapping out the photo on her page. — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cold war
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold war
  1. world war
  2. civil war
  3. holy war
  4. limited war
Noun
  • Louis' boxing matches with Schmeling were viewed as pivotal international events in the context of the brewing world war with Nazi Germany.
    — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026
  • Horkheimer, amid the wreckage of world war, lost faith in progress; his dialectic negated one construct after another.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Definition of world war
Noun
  • The state sponsor of terrorism label, first imposed on Syria in 1979 after a previous regime sided with Palestinian militants, continues to repel the business deals the country needs to recover from its crippling civil war.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 8 July 2026
  • Its incredible restoration under a charismatic Italian priest, his tragic disappearance and presumed death during the Syrian civil war, and the inspiring interfaith work of the monastery's remaining monks and nuns all fascinated me.
    — Emily Feng, NPR, 8 July 2026
Definition of civil war
Noun
  • Commentary and opinions Bass clears the first hurdle, but if Pratt holds off Raman, the mayoral race could be a holy war, writes columnist Steve Lopez.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
  • Khomeini demonized the United States and Soviet Union as the Iran-Iraq holy war raged during much of his tenure.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 19 May 2026
Definition of holy war
Noun
  • In this scenario, which may already be coming to fruition, the meager hope is that the conflict transforms into simply a more limited war.
    — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2024
  • Many scholars panned the book, believing its 34-year-old author had overestimated the nation’s ability to keep limited war limited.
    — David E. Sanger, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Definition of limited war

Browse Nearby Words

cold turkey
cold war
cold wars
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Cite this Entry

“Cold war.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20war. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cold war

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cold war

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