1
as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
that troubled region remains one of the world's most dangerous flash points
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
tensions between the two longtime adversaries were at a flash point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flash point
The killing has become a flash point in a wider crackdown across the Persian Gulf.
—
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 17 Apr. 2026
Lebanon becomes the flash point The single biggest point of contention, and now the most violent, is Lebanon.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
In the years since, gun control has continued to be a flash point, but there have been moves in the right direction.
—Kamye Hugley, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
The arrest became a flash point during his Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flash point
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 17 Apr. 2026
Lebanon becomes the flash point The single biggest point of contention, and now the most violent, is Lebanon.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
In the years since, gun control has continued to be a flash point, but there have been moves in the right direction.
—Kamye Hugley, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
The arrest became a flash point during his Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flash point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point
Noun
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The Island of Hawaii features three famous volcanoes — Kilauea with its spectacular eruptions, Mauna Kea and its spectacular sunsets, and Mauna Loa, the world’s highest mountain when measured from its underwater base to the summit.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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The other satellite system, NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), typically uses radar imaging to continually map and track changes across the Earth’s surface, including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and ice sheet collapses.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2026
Noun
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Boos rained down from the stands with Slot facing the first crisis of his tenure.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
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Tran reiterated his call for state and federal investigation and accountability once the crisis has been averted.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Noun
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Can people avoid the ticking HSA tax time bomb?—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
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That is a real fiscal time bomb that could set off generational warfare in Washington.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Moreover, as the tension between Penelope and Casey reaches a boiling point, Lori and Malcolm let the girls sort things out for themselves.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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The bad blood that had festered between the two competitors came to a boiling point.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Saugus has won multiple playoff games in each of its first two seasons under head coach Mike Miller.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
27 May 2026
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Minter departed at the end of the season to become the Ravens’ head coach and former Chargers safeties coach Chris O’Leary returned this past winter from a one-season stint as the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan to replace Minter.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Noun
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The breaking point for the House Republican with Brandon Phillips came Friday when Collins’ campaign account mocked a Dooley operative whose wife attempted suicide after accusing former NBC host Matt Lauer of rape.—
Greg Bluestein,
AJC.com,
22 May 2026
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The Angels finally reached a breaking point with Josh Lowe.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
22 May 2026
Noun
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However, in the throes of crunch time, Wembanyama left the Earth.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
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Instead, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Jamal Murray were the final three in the running for the league’s crunch time award.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flash point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash%20point. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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