1
as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
officials sought to calm the situation, which had grown into a tinderbox
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2
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
while the country's prime minister was meeting with the U.S. president, a political tinderbox was igniting at home
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tinderbox
Nigeria, on track to become more populous than China by the end of the century, could turn central Africa into a tinderbox.
—
Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
After almost a year of a brutal war with Hamas in Gaza, Israel is at the center of a tinderbox of multiple, interrelated Middle East conflicts.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
Forests have become tinderboxes overgrown with trees, shrubs, and other fuels due to lack of maintenance and decades of fire suppression—to the point where 80 million acres are in need of restoration.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
The big picture: Both Trump and President Biden will now face pressure to dial down the temperature ahead of an election that has transformed the country into a tinderbox, writes Axios' Zachary Basu.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 14 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
After almost a year of a brutal war with Hamas in Gaza, Israel is at the center of a tinderbox of multiple, interrelated Middle East conflicts.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
Forests have become tinderboxes overgrown with trees, shrubs, and other fuels due to lack of maintenance and decades of fire suppression—to the point where 80 million acres are in need of restoration.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
The big picture: Both Trump and President Biden will now face pressure to dial down the temperature ahead of an election that has transformed the country into a tinderbox, writes Axios' Zachary Basu.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 14 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderbox
Noun
-
One of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea on Hawaii's Big Island, began spewing lava from the north vent Wednesday, the latest event in an ongoing eruption that began almost six months ago.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2025
-
In the depths of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, underwater volcanoes spew material into the ocean water.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2025
Noun
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Even amid crises, the system generates new leaders, factions, and power centers.—
Narges Bajoghli,
Time,
19 June 2025
-
Trump is also facing growing skepticism about deepening U.S. involvement in the Mideast crisis from some of his most ardent supporters.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel, whose firm WME represents Parker and Stone, defended Paramount and Skydance’s handling of the situation on Friday by phone.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
-
The footage reveals production members scrambling to evacuate and control the flooding situation.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderbox. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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