time bomb

noun

Updated on: 1 Apr 2018

Definition of time bomb

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

2 : something with a potentially dangerous or detrimental delayed reaction

See time bomb defined for English-language learners

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 of time bomb from the Web

There is not, as one might assume from the general mood, a ticking time bomb, ready to explode and take with it Spurs' hopes of a trophy.

— SI.com, "Spurs Don't Need to Win the FA Cup But it Could Represent an Important Psychological Boost," 20 Mar. 2018
With relatively little fanfare, Congress effectively sent ticking time bombs to statehouses across the country, which are scrambling to assess and contain the damage.

— Anchorage Daily News, "The GOP tax law doesn’t just hurt blue states. It hurts everyone.," 20 Jan. 2018
Rather than literal ticking time bombs, the movie focuses on small pressures that build into big ones: unwanted family obligations, awkward social interactions and a stifling daily routine.

— noel murray, latimes.com, "Everyday trouble comes to a head in thriller 'Tilt'," 15 Mar. 2018
An independent monitor auditing the recalls under regulators’ supervision, who has likened Takata air bags to grenades and ticking time bombs, is also expected to testify.

— mike spector, WSJ, "Regulator, Car Executives to Testify at Senate Hearing on Takata Recall," 13 Mar. 2018
Its debt to gross domestic product ratio consistently tops 130 percent, a ticking economic time bomb that few of the country’s citizens can hear.

— Bloomberg.com, "Italy's Feuding Politicians Make Economy Wait for Leadership," 5 Mar. 2018
In an interview last month with The Bee, Hunter described Rouin as an alcoholic and a ticking time bomb.

— steve magagnini, sacbee, "Coroner’s report reveals horrifying final moments for West Sacramento sisters | The Sacramento Bee," 26 Feb. 2018
More: 'Ticking time bomb': Automakers leaving too many lethal Takata air bags on the road?

— tom krisher, Detroit Free Press, "14 automakers list more models in Takata recall," 18 Jan. 2018
At every turn, Schmidt seethes with his own self-importance, and Sarsgaard keeps the character wound up like a time bomb.

— david wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle, "Hulu’s ‘Tower’ probes walk-up to 9/11," 26 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'time bomb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of time bomb

1893

TIME BOMB Defined for English Language Learners

time bomb

noun

Definition of time bomb for English Language Learners

: a bomb that is set to explode at a particular moment
: a person or situation that will probably become dangerous or harmful in the future

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See words that rhyme with time bomb Spanish Central: Translation of time bomb

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Definition of time bomb

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