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Synonyms

white-hot

American  
[hwahyt-hot, wahyt-] / ˈʰwaɪtˈhɒt, ˈwaɪt- /

adjective

  1. extremely hot.

  2. showing white heat.

  3. exceedingly enthusiastic, ardent, angry, devoted, etc.; impassioned; perfervid.

    a fierce, white-hot loyalty to the king.


white-hot British  

adjective

  1. at such a high temperature that white light is emitted

  2. informal in a state of intense emotion

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of white-hot

First recorded in 1810–20

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.

See Examples For:

Every day, women queue with buckets beneath a white-hot sky.

From BBC Jun. 1, 2026

The RSI, which touched a white-hot high of 90 on March 9, has been declining ever since, indicating weakness in price momentum.

From Barron's Apr. 27, 2026

Witches, demons and Satanism — anything occult — is white-hot lately.

From Salon Apr. 1, 2026

Minneapolis is no stranger to tragedy, or to the white-hot spotlight of international media attention, or to banding together in the face of a crisis.

From Slate Feb. 11, 2026

Leo summoned a white-hot ball of fire into his right hand.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

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