powder kegs

plural of powder keg
as in volcanoes
a potentially explosive place or situation the immigration bill has become a political powder keg for legislators on both sides of the aisle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for powder kegs
volcanoes
Noun
  • The find confirms that tool-using humans could have witnessed the eruption from a safe distance; survivors recorded the event in the story told by the Gunditjmara people who have lived continuously in the region of Australia’s youngest volcanoes.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The Highlands The Highlands are an untamed region full of volcanoes, black deserts, and crater lakes.
    Gwen Nicol, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Powder kegs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powder%20kegs. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!