powder keg
noun
1
: a small usually metal cask for holding gunpowder or blasting powder
2
: something liable to explode
Examples of powder keg in a Sentence
Political instability has made the region a powder keg.
the immigration bill has become a political powder keg for legislators on both sides of the aisle
Recent Examples on the Web
The powder keg situation in the town is stoked primarily by the upsurge in Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by a white Minneapolis cop.
—
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
This was the powder keg that ultimately sparked in the 1911 Champagne riots.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025
The room was full and full of energy, reminiscent of the powder keg vibe of early Odd Future shows.f
During weekend one, the group played in minimal light, obscuring their faces entirely.
—Jeff Miller, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2025
During that tour, just as now, America was raw and explosive, a powder keg.
—Ryan Miller, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
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David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
This was the powder keg that ultimately sparked in the 1911 Champagne riots.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025
The room was full and full of energy, reminiscent of the powder keg vibe of early Odd Future shows.f
During weekend one, the group played in minimal light, obscuring their faces entirely.
—Jeff Miller, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2025
During that tour, just as now, America was raw and explosive, a powder keg.
—Ryan Miller, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
Cite this Entry
“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powder%20keg. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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