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 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
Eddington, Ari Aster’s latest, is a nouveau western, which follows the clash between a small-town Sheriff in New Mexico (Phoenix) and a mayor (Pascal) during Covid when powder keg socio-political issues were ramping up during the first President Donald Trump term.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 3 July 2025
The rift between Carlson and Cruz demonstrates that even among President Trump’s biggest supporters, there’s been considerable debate about how the U.S. should deal with the powder keg situation that escalated Friday when Israel launched airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
Eddington, Ari Aster’s latest, is a nouveau western, which follows the clash between a small-town Sheriff in New Mexico (Phoenix) and a mayor (Pascal) during Covid when powder keg socio-political issues were ramping up during the first President Donald Trump term.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 3 July 2025
The rift between Carlson and Cruz demonstrates that even among President Trump’s biggest supporters, there’s been considerable debate about how the U.S. should deal with the powder keg situation that escalated Friday when Israel launched airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear and military facilities.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powder keg
volcano
Noun
-
The story calls for a chorus of dancing sardines, a volcano, a villainous amoeba and more.—
Point Loma-Ob Monthly,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Aug. 2025
-
Connolly advises viewing erupting volcanoes only by private helicopter ride.—
Robin Catalano,
Robb Report,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powder%20keg. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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