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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flash point
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
This year, the island is a flash point once again.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
European Union nations are just weeks away from a decision on where to host the bloc’s new customs agency, in what could be an initial flash point in the race to pick the next European Central Bank chief.
—Zoe Schneeweiss, Bloomberg, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flash point
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
This year, the island is a flash point once again.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
European Union nations are just weeks away from a decision on where to host the bloc’s new customs agency, in what could be an initial flash point in the race to pick the next European Central Bank chief.
—Zoe Schneeweiss, Bloomberg, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flash point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point
Noun
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In the distance, stretching the vista almost to its breaking point, are two snowcapped volcanoes.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Butterflies, metamorphic rock, volcanoes, anything in nature that creates.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
Noun
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In the meantime, the energy crisis continues, threatening summer holidays in Asia and Europe as the loss of jet fuel supplies from the Middle East ripples across those regions.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
7 May 2026
-
But beneath the joy and abandon, the AIDS crisis casts an ever-deepening shadow.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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After spending more than two million dollars on VIP jet charter services, his frustrations with the industry reached a boiling point.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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The episode’s tension reaches a boiling point at the ceremony, when Nate’s business associate, Naz, shows up uninvited after learning Nate is scamming him.—
Zoe Papelis,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The reason, an official with knowledge of the meeting plans said, is because King Charles is a head of state, rather than a head of government.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Matt Small, who is in his first season as Lincoln-Way Central’s head coach, was an assistant at Homewood-Flossmoor.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Kansas City Royals might have reached their breaking point against the Yankees in New York on Saturday.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2026
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The tension between engineering and finance reached a breaking point with the 737 MAX as the company tried to compete with Airbus.—
John Pacenti,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The game was well into crunch time, and Detroit needed to create some breathing room.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 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 9 May. 2026.
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