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
In the familiar pattern, today’s resolution is tomorrow’s tinderbox.
—
David Remnick, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
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 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
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
David Remnick, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
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 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
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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Sip wine atop a Sicilian volcano in Italy?—
Mary Curry,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
-
At one point, Atsu climbs its range and skirts along the mouth of the dormant volcano, which spreads like an impossibly massive maw in every direction (Yōtei is pushing the limits of draw-distance tech).—
Alyssa Mercante,
Rolling Stone,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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His latest protest fits into his activism against war and follows previous arrests for disrupting Senate hearings over Gaza and domestic health crises.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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In her usual soft-spoken British accent, she was known for balancing the grim realities of the climate crisis with a sincere message of hope for the future.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The situation should remind us of dozens of economic bubbles from the past, ranging from 17th Century Dutch tulips to credit default swaps in 2008.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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There’s no question Falvey is in an increasingly difficult situation due to the Pohlads’ unwillingness to invest in the roster he’s tasked with building.—
Aaron Gleeman,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderbox. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
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