powder keg

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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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 powder keg 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 That sparks a powder keg as neighbors are pitted against each other in this New Mexico pueblo. Simon Thompson, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025 The Kansas City Royals rolled into town sitting on a powder keg. Kansas City Star, 5 July 2025 They are being thrust involuntarily into a powder keg. State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for powder keg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powder keg
volcano
Noun
  • The helicopter then lands inside the canyon, where participants start their epic journey on the river to the infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcano, past glaciers, waterfalls, and basalt columns.
    Mia Taylor, Boston Herald, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Joan and her dad are both convinced the world is going to end when that volcano erupts, but only one of them is willing to put themselves on the line in order to stop it.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powder%20keg. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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