as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
the immigration bill has become a political powder keg for legislators on both sides of the aisle
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Recent Examples of powder keg
The official synopsis for Eddington, as per A24, reads:
In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.
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Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Then, as if to light a match to the powder keg of the crowd, HYDE went down to the crowd.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 29 July 2025
How could a powder keg, years in the making, hide in plain sight?
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2025
Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal star in the polarizing film, set in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as a sheriff and mayor who sparks a powder keg in their small town.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Then, as if to light a match to the powder keg of the crowd, HYDE went down to the crowd.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 29 July 2025
How could a powder keg, years in the making, hide in plain sight?
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2025
Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal star in the polarizing film, set in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as a sheriff and mayor who sparks a powder keg in their small town.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powder keg
volcano
Noun
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According to a study published today in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, J1007+3540 is erupting like a volcano and spewing plasma across interstellar space.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
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When her childhood friend Bethany comes to visit with a new boyfriend, a volcano erupts.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powder%20keg. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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