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
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
The Middle East has been a tinderbox since October 2023, when Hamas militants from Gaza entered Israel in force, killing hundreds and taking dozens more hostage.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 24 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
Both Trump and Biden will now face pressure to dial down the temperature ahead of an election that has transformed the country into a tinderbox.
—Zachary Basu, Axios, 14 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Travis Loller, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
The Middle East has been a tinderbox since October 2023, when Hamas militants from Gaza entered Israel in force, killing hundreds and taking dozens more hostage.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 24 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
Both Trump and Biden will now face pressure to dial down the temperature ahead of an election that has transformed the country into a tinderbox.
—Zachary Basu, Axios, 14 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderbox
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
Noun
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The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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In a bizarre twist, that denial letter listed her husband as the patient but made reference to the care of a newborn, not that of a 52-year-old man having a mental health crisis.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That’s the situation more pet owners are facing these days.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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Getty Images The San Francisco 49ers quarterback situation for their upcoming Week 2 game against the New Orleans Saints may not be Purdy.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderbox. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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