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 rift between Carlson and Cruz demonstrates that even among President Trump’s biggest supporters, there’s been considerable debate about how the U.S. should deal with the powder keg situation that escalated Friday when Israel launched airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.
—
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
But internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 June 2025
Where Conrad and Maeve are volatile powder kegs ready to ignite a mob war, Kevin and Harry are more contained, tasked to keep operations running.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 June 2025
Trump ‘packed the powder keg’ Officials acknowledged people in Connecticut had taken into custody by ICE.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
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Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
But internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 June 2025
Where Conrad and Maeve are volatile powder kegs ready to ignite a mob war, Kevin and Harry are more contained, tasked to keep operations running.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 June 2025
Trump ‘packed the powder keg’ Officials acknowledged people in Connecticut had taken into custody by ICE.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 12 June 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 5 Jul. 2025.
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