as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
the region's political instability has turned it into a ticking time bomb
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Recent Examples of time bomb
But state officials knew those ARPA dollars would be exhausted by 2026 and that using them to cover recurring expenses was a ticking fiscal time bomb, a huge hole that eventually would have to be filled some other way.
—
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2025
Both technologies promised transformative value but became liability time bombs when deployed without guardrails.
—Jacques Nack, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
His friendship with Wash defies simplistic categorization: While sincere in feeling, its inherently untenable contradictions amount to a ticking time bomb, apparently destined to blow up in the back half of the series.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2025
However, the issues behind the protests — such as government corruption, the use of excessive force by police, and the lack of job prospects for young adults — are ticking time bombs that risk eroding the country’s reputation.
—Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for time bomb
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 Aug. 2025
Both technologies promised transformative value but became liability time bombs when deployed without guardrails.
—Jacques Nack, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
His friendship with Wash defies simplistic categorization: While sincere in feeling, its inherently untenable contradictions amount to a ticking time bomb, apparently destined to blow up in the back half of the series.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2025
However, the issues behind the protests — such as government corruption, the use of excessive force by police, and the lack of job prospects for young adults — are ticking time bombs that risk eroding the country’s reputation.
—Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for time bomb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for time bomb
volcano
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Time bomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/time%20bomb. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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