hornet's nest
noun
1
: a troublesome or hazardous situation
2
: an angry reaction
must have known that his frank comments … would stir up a hornet's nest—
U.S. Investor
U.S. InvestorExamples of hornet's nest in a Sentence
The principal entered the hornet's nest of angry parents.
His comments stirred up a hornet's nest of angry opposition and criticism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lanthimos’ most suspenseful work is also the closest he’s come to genuine horror, with blood oozing from the eyes while a score like a hornet's nest quickens the pulse.
—Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024
The first Asian giant hornet's nest of the year was eradicated late last month in rural Whatcom County.
—Jenn Selva, CNN, 12 Sep. 2021
If diplomacy fails, the use of military force looms as the only other option--a hornet's nest that even Trump dared not stir.
—The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Arkansas Online, 23 June 2021
The first murder hornet's nest was discovered in a tree and destroyed in late October in the town of Blaine in Whatcom County, located along the Canadian border.
—Fox News, 11 Nov. 2020
With its lease on life extended another year, the modernizing committee is looking into issues that could rile up the hornet's nest.
—Author: Paul Kane, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Dec. 2019
But the attempt to kick out KairosPDX charter school was a political hornet's nest.
—Bethany Barnes, OregonLive.com, 26 Apr. 2018
An order by Trump to revisit how the land is used has been like poking a hornet's nest with a stick.
—latimes.com, 16 Mar. 2018
Lawmakers are navigating a hornet's nest of competing issues and egos.
—Amber Phillips, Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2018
Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024
The first Asian giant hornet's nest of the year was eradicated late last month in rural Whatcom County.
—Jenn Selva, CNN, 12 Sep. 2021
If diplomacy fails, the use of military force looms as the only other option--a hornet's nest that even Trump dared not stir.
—The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Arkansas Online, 23 June 2021
The first murder hornet's nest was discovered in a tree and destroyed in late October in the town of Blaine in Whatcom County, located along the Canadian border.
—Fox News, 11 Nov. 2020
With its lease on life extended another year, the modernizing committee is looking into issues that could rile up the hornet's nest.
—Author: Paul Kane, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Dec. 2019
But the attempt to kick out KairosPDX charter school was a political hornet's nest.
—Bethany Barnes, OregonLive.com, 26 Apr. 2018
An order by Trump to revisit how the land is used has been like poking a hornet's nest with a stick.
—latimes.com, 16 Mar. 2018
Lawmakers are navigating a hornet's nest of competing issues and egos.
—Amber Phillips, Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hornet's nest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near hornet's nest
Cite this Entry
“Hornet's nest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hornet%27s%20nest. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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