as in cold
a weather condition marked by low temperatures
the unseasonable cold wave in the Northeast has already put a strain on oil supplies
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Recent Examples of cold wave
Travelers and residents should stay informed about forecast changes, particularly as storm tracks and cold wave durations remain uncertain.
—
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
The pattern of cold waves over Dec. 5 and 6 and those expected beyond that are forecast to drop temperatures well below the normal average, said Paul Pastelok, a long-range meteorologist for AccuWeather.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
A lot of existing NewSeed crops wilted in a heat wave or got frosted in a cold wave or got drowned in a wave wave.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
These consisted of 17 severe storms (tornado outbreaks, high wind, hailstorms), 5 tropical cyclones, and 2 winter storm-cold waves, a wildfire and 1 drought/heatwave.
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold wave
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
The pattern of cold waves over Dec. 5 and 6 and those expected beyond that are forecast to drop temperatures well below the normal average, said Paul Pastelok, a long-range meteorologist for AccuWeather.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
A lot of existing NewSeed crops wilted in a heat wave or got frosted in a cold wave or got drowned in a wave wave.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
These consisted of 17 severe storms (tornado outbreaks, high wind, hailstorms), 5 tropical cyclones, and 2 winter storm-cold waves, a wildfire and 1 drought/heatwave.
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cold wave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cold wave
Noun
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Being able to sanitize can help prevent the spread of illnesses like colds, flu, RSV and COVID-19.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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In comparison, in 2023, the last year for which data is available, 29 people died due to extreme cold, while 52 people died in 2022 and 34 in 2021, according to Health Department data.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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How often does the Ohio River freeze?—
Stephanie Stremplewski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Feb. 2026
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The panel overseeing the project, the Gateway Development Commission, had said work would stop late Friday afternoon because of the federal funding freeze, resulting in the immediate loss of about 1,000 jobs as well as thousands of additional jobs in the future.—
Anthony Izaguirre,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cold wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cold%20wave. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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