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
Destructive protests occasionally flare, leading some analysts to observe that Latin American politics remains a tinderbox.
—
Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2023
Current weather conditions — including a severe lack of rainfall this year in Los Angeles — have created a tinderbox in the region.
—Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Jan. 2025
Climate whiplash, made worse by our actions, created a tinderbox.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
East County regularly is blasted by high winds and hot temperatures, conditions that dry out brush and can create a tinderbox waiting for a spark.
—Karen Kucher, The Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2023
Current weather conditions — including a severe lack of rainfall this year in Los Angeles — have created a tinderbox in the region.
—Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Jan. 2025
Climate whiplash, made worse by our actions, created a tinderbox.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
East County regularly is blasted by high winds and hot temperatures, conditions that dry out brush and can create a tinderbox waiting for a spark.
—Karen Kucher, The Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderbox
Noun
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The world's largest solar telescope on top of the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii has used a new instrument that took 15 years to build to produce a spectacular first image of the sun.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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The left image features the expansive Tharsis plateau and its chain of dormant volcanoes, including the colossal Olympus Mons, which can be seen towering above the Martian clouds.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The biggest challenges facing Fort Worth include the hiring of a new police chief during a mental health crisis that law enforcement is failing to address effectively.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
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Production has slowed in recent years, sparking a nationwide crisis, yet people who step forward with solutions meet resistance.—
Daryl James,
National Review,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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And if the situation isn’t that dire, if our geopolitical power under President Trump is still strong enough to influence the behavior of one small Latin American state, then the Trump administration is choosing to disobey the orders of our nation’s Supreme Court.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2025
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The organization also suggests utilizing a monitoring device for these children in some situations, and points out the importance of establishing a community that can help support the kids.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderbox. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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