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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Recent Examples of tinderbox
Kenya’s deteriorating economy — youth unemployment stands at 67% — has turned the country into a tinderbox: Yesterday’s protests were preceded by violent demonstrations against the killing of a blogger while in police custody, leaving many seeking answers.
—
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 27 June 2025
The Salvadoran national whose mistaken deportation became a tinderbox in the fight over President Trump’s immigration policies has been in jail since he was returned to the U.S. on June 7, facing two counts of human smuggling.
—Travis Loller, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Importantly, however, the scene in Los Angeles by no means indicates that electric cars are tinderboxes.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 9 June 2025
When a young girl impregnated by her pedophile stepfather unwittingly lands there, her arrival is the spark that lights a tinderbox.
—New York Times, 8 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 27 June 2025
The Salvadoran national whose mistaken deportation became a tinderbox in the fight over President Trump’s immigration policies has been in jail since he was returned to the U.S. on June 7, facing two counts of human smuggling.
—Travis Loller, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Importantly, however, the scene in Los Angeles by no means indicates that electric cars are tinderboxes.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 9 June 2025
When a young girl impregnated by her pedophile stepfather unwittingly lands there, her arrival is the spark that lights a tinderbox.
—New York Times, 8 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderbox
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
Noun
-
The flip side of such consolidated investment in one tech sector is a giant economic vulnerability that could lead to a financial crisis.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
18 Aug. 2025
-
During the inflation crisis of 2022, the stock decreased by 82.8% from its peak of $444.70 in November 2021 to $76.46 a year later, while the index experienced a 25.4% decline during the same period.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Guys stepped up in big situations, like Anderson and Hill.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
13 Aug. 2025
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But Judge Kaplan wasn’t convinced the situation wouldn’t deteriorate again.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderbox. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
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