cold-water

1 of 2

adjective

cold-wa·​ter ˈkōld-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce cold-water (audio)
-ˌwä-
: having only running water without heat or utility services provided
a cold-water flat

cold water

2 of 2

noun

: depreciation of something as being ill-advised, unwarranted, or worthless
threw cold water on our hopes

Examples of cold-water in a Sentence

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.
Adjective
The researchers also found more days when rivers were warm enough to stress cold-water species like bull trout. — Matthew Brown, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026 Veterinarians assessed the belugas' fitness for travel before they were loaded into specialized cold-water containers and transported by truck and plane, the aquariums said. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Noun
The easiest way to lower your exposure to the cyclospora parasite is by washing your hands and surfaces doing food preparation, by washing raw ingredients in cold water, and by thoroughly cooking fruits and vegetables. — Marissa Perlman, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei had again poured cold water on the notion of direct negotiations with the United States. — Mike Sheen, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cold-water

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1942, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1808, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cold-water was in 1808

Rhymes for cold-water

See All Rhymes for cold-water

Browse Nearby Words

cold warrior
cold-water
cold water
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cold-water.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold-water. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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