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
However, internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.
—
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 June 2025
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.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 June 2025
The powder keg situation in the town is stoked primarily by the upsurge in Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by a white Minneapolis cop.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
This was the powder keg that ultimately sparked in the 1911 Champagne riots.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 June 2025
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.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 June 2025
The powder keg situation in the town is stoked primarily by the upsurge in Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by a white Minneapolis cop.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2025
This was the powder keg that ultimately sparked in the 1911 Champagne riots.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powder keg
volcano
Noun
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Lava erupting from the Erta Ale volcano in the Afar region of Ethiopia.—
Ian Randall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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Even with the uncertainty of war, Stanton noted there are bigger worries for air carriers, like volcanoes.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powder%20keg. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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