pandora's box

noun

Definition of pandora's boxnext
as in trial
a source of many troubles; something that will lead to many problems Their parents are understandably afraid of opening a pandora's box if they buy their oldest child a car.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pandora's box The procedural vote yesterday was our effort to advance President Trump's important legislative agenda while disabling a discharge petition that would force proxy voting and open a dangerous Pandora's box for the institution. — Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025 Advances in technology have opened an exciting possibility or perhaps stirred a Pandora's box. — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 Meta's plan to generate synthetic content tailored to individual users — which attracted little notice this week amid a slew of product announcements — opens a whole new Pandora's box in an AI world already full of them. — Ina Fried, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024 Both Cancer and Sagittarius possess a rich inner world similar to Pandora's box, each containing a wealth of complexities and unique attributes waiting to be explored. — Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 25 June 2024 The police have had bomb disposal robots forever, but the Pandora's box of weaponizing them was originally opened by the Dallas Police Department. — Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 30 Nov. 2022 Blonde was a philosophical Pandora's box. — Arabelle Sicardi, Allure, 19 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pandora's box
  1. trial
  2. hair shirt
  3. discomfort
  4. rub
Noun
  • Ahead of the trial, the commonwealth also filed a motion to admit audio recordings of the 911 call Patrick Clancy made after returning home and discovering his family.
    — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • He was called to testify as a witness at Rubiales’ criminal trial in February 2025, where prosecutors sought jail time over the kiss and alleged efforts to pressure Hermoso into downplaying it.
    — Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of trial
Noun
  • Four years later, an America-first cultural crackdown has freed the Met to cast off the hair shirt of reckoning and celebrate its diverse holdings in a spirit of defiance.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • And that gave birth to the worst Wolverine, which also gave birth to the idea that the suit is a hair shirt.
    — Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024
Definition of hair shirt
Noun
  • Due to such discomfort – or for other reasons – people often delay making plans for their own dying process.
    — Jane Callahan, The Conversation, 14 July 2026
  • But despite this recent discomfort between the two sides, league sources say the front office is not currently making an effort to shop Diggins for a deadline trade.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of discomfort
Noun
  • To enhance a pork tenderloin, use a marinade or dry rub that balances sweet, savory, acidic, and aromatic flavors.
    — Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026
  • In a bowl, combine all dry rub ingredients and season the ribs generously on all sides.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of rub

Browse Nearby Words

pandits
pandora's box
pandora's boxes
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Cite this Entry

“Pandora's box.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pandora%27s%20box. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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