cold wave
noun
1
: an unusually large and rapid drop in temperature over a short period of time (such as 24 hours)
2
: a permanent wave set by a chemical preparation without the use of heat
Examples of cold wave in a Sentence
the unseasonable cold wave in the Northeast has already put a strain on oil supplies
Recent Examples on the Web
The area of the U.S. being hit by extreme weather in the past five years has doubled from 20 years ago, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Extremes Index, which includes various types of wild weather, such as heat and cold waves, downpours and drought. —
Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026 Polar vortex ends 'false spring' Not every cold wave is tied to the polar vortex, but this one is, AccuWeather said. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026 The town began getting complaint calls during the harsh cold wave that came before the severe snowstorm Jan. 25, and the rate has increased since. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026 At Saturday midday, the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but the temperature was still 6 degrees below zero. —Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cold wave
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.
Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026 Polar vortex ends 'false spring' Not every cold wave is tied to the polar vortex, but this one is, AccuWeather said. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026 The town began getting complaint calls during the harsh cold wave that came before the severe snowstorm Jan. 25, and the rate has increased since. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026 At Saturday midday, the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but the temperature was still 6 degrees below zero. —Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cold wave
Cite this Entry
“Cold wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/cold%20wave. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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