time bomb

noun

1

: a bomb so made as to explode at a predetermined time

2

: something with a potentially dangerous or detrimental delayed reaction

Synonyms of time bomb

• volcano

Examples of time bomb in a Sentence

He's a time bomb getting ready to explode.

If we don't do something about the pollution problem, we'll be sitting on a ticking time bomb.

Recent Examples on the Web

In Europe, multiethnic capitals are pilloried by the far right as demographic time bombs, ground zero for invasions of unwanted foreigners. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Blood streamed through his veins, pulsing inside him, like a ticking time bomb. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

But the weapons also have a dark side that makes each a ticking time bomb for the people who wield them. — Jay Peters, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2026

During this same year, Chemours sued the other DuPont companies, claiming it had been handed a financial time bomb because of the PFAS liability it had been left with. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for time bomb

• diatom
• intercom
• aplomb
• balaam
• begam
• cocom
• embalm
• islam
• pogrom
• salaam
• sitcom
• balm