time bomb

noun

Synonyms of time bombnext
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That is a real fiscal time bomb that could set off generational warfare in Washington. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026 Neighbors said the drunken Queens man who broke into his estranged wife’s home and set off a gas explosion seemed like anything but a ticking time bomb. Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026 Regulators and former employees call it one of the most notorious chameleon schemes — a ticking time bomb on our nation's roadways. Ashley Velie, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026 Of course, their amity turned out to be a time bomb. Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for time bomb

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of time bomb was in 1893

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Time bomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time%20bomb. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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