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hot war

American

noun

open military conflict; an armed conflict between nations.

The increasing tension in the Middle East could lead to a hot war.

Etymology

Origin of hot war

First recorded in 1945–50; by analogy with cold war

Compare meaning

How does hot-war compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

cold war vs. hot war

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Investors find themselves in the middle of a hot war in the Middle East, with oil prices touching their highest levels in years.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026

It needs to, because it’s a hot war now, right?

From Slate • Oct. 25, 2025

“President Xi Jinping reiterated during his recent visit to the United States that China will not fight a cold war or a hot war with anyone.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 12, 2024

That strategy focuses on minimalist, gradual gains - more hybrid war than hot war.

From Washington Times • Nov. 18, 2023

This outrage excited a hot war spirit among the Americans.

From Harper's Young People, August 10, 1880 An Illustrated Weekly by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023