cold war

noun

: a conflict over ideological differences carried on by methods short of sustained overt military action and usually without breaking off diplomatic relations

specifically, often capitalized C&W : the ideological conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the second half of the 20th century compare hot war

: 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

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.

Second, a worry is that if countries try to keep their AI close to the vest, this will in turn start a new kind of cold war. —

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 It’s generally agreed by the Housewives consuming public that this current iteration of Real Housewives of New Jersey — with Team Teresa and Team Melissa in a cold war and everyone playing their stories out in the press rather than in dramatic dinner scenes — is not sustainable. —

Bethy Squires, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2024 These actions also contribute to the growing tech cold war between major powers, particularly the U.S. and China. —

Tim Bates, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024 To counter them, Harris or Trump could warn Americans that the costs of a hot or cold war with China would be steep, and that such a conflict could arrive soon if bilateral ties keep deteriorating. —

Christopher S. Chivvis, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cold war