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
Tackling this ticking time bomb requires swift and decisive action—the kind America excels at.
—
MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Directed by Moses from a screenplay he co-wrote with Federico Sargentone and Katja Horvat, the film follows protagonist Ham, who wakes up with a time bomb on his chest.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Appointing Mandelson was a time bomb, and the prime minister planted it.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for time bomb
MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Directed by Moses from a screenplay he co-wrote with Federico Sargentone and Katja Horvat, the film follows protagonist Ham, who wakes up with a time bomb on his chest.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Appointing Mandelson was a time bomb, and the prime minister planted it.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for time bomb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for time bomb
volcano
Noun
-
The film, shot in lustrous black and white by Rosi, explores life in the city in southern Italy where Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano, looms nearby.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The previous most energetic volcanic eruption seen on Io was about 80 terawatts, from a volcano called Surt in 2001.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Time bomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/time%20bomb. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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