1
as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
that troubled region remains one of the world's most dangerous flash points
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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
The issue has become a flash point for Republicans to signal their stance on immigration.
—
Max Rego, The Hill, 23 Sep. 2025
Rhetoric about Taiwan, the most prominent flash point for Chinese sovereignty, is an example of the historical origins of the issue.
—David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
Yet with each subsequent racial flash point, from the arrest of Henry Louis Gates in 2009 to the murder of George Floyd, calls resurfaced for the national conversation.
—Lee Bebout, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
Early on, Feld became Chicago’s most divisive restaurant, a flash point for critics of highfalutin many-course tasting menus.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flash point
Max Rego, The Hill, 23 Sep. 2025
Rhetoric about Taiwan, the most prominent flash point for Chinese sovereignty, is an example of the historical origins of the issue.
—David C. Kang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2025
Yet with each subsequent racial flash point, from the arrest of Henry Louis Gates in 2009 to the murder of George Floyd, calls resurfaced for the national conversation.
—Lee Bebout, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
Early on, Feld became Chicago’s most divisive restaurant, a flash point for critics of highfalutin many-course tasting menus.
—The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flash point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point
Noun
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Iceland's unique environment includes an active volcano, natural hot springs, thousands of picturesque waterfalls and glaciers – including Vatnajökull, which takes up 8% of the country's land area.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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The Highlands The Highlands are an untamed region full of volcanoes, black deserts, and crater lakes.—
Gwen Nicol,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Daisy Jones & the Six chronicles the rise and fall of a group fronted by two charismatic lead singers—Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne—and their journey from obscurity to fame, complete with romantic tensions, personal crises, and drug problems.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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Climate crisis supercharging typhoons The western Pacific is the most active tropical basin on Earth but global ocean temperatures have been at record levels for each of the last eight years.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Directed by Moses from a screenplay he co-wrote with Federico Sargentone and Katja Horvat, the film follows protagonist Ham, who wakes up with a time bomb on his chest.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
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Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ross's affinity for McDaniel has been well-known, as rumors of his being fired reached a boiling point way ahead of the Dolphins' loss to the Ravens in Week 9.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Things reached a boiling point between Katie and Mike during the peak of the pandemic baking trend.—
Mara Santilli,
Flow Space,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Experts say many multinational firms are adopting dual leadership models, where global business unit heads in India co-own strategy and product outcomes with their counterparts at headquarters.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Losing to Pitt at home was the breaking point — though, frankly, the Panthers look like a new team since inserting Mason Heintschel at quarterback.—
Ralph D. Russo,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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Companies that prepare ahead of time will be rewarded; those that don’t risk being forced to change only once the crisis gets to a breaking point.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In crunch time, stability teamed with chaos to close out the Lakers as LeBron James watched from his seat on the sideline.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
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So, the defense doubled down on dominance in crunch time.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flash point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash%20point. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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