1
as in volcanoes
a potentially explosive place or situation
officials sought to calm the situation, which had grown into a tinderbox
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in crises
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tinderboxes
Unlike natural thinning, large fire-resilient trees are typically high-graded for felling in Jackson, creating tinderboxes of 300 to 500 mostly juvenile trees per acre.
—
John P. O’Brien, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
John P. O’Brien, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderboxes
Noun
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One of the most active volcanoes in the world is gearing up for a spectacular eruption, according to the United States Geological Survey.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Nevis Excellent year-round diving awaits on Nevis with its crystal-clear waters, rich marine biodiversity and inactive volcanoes that helped shape the underwater topography.—
Adrienne Jordan,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Every dollar spent on preventing extreme hunger saves many more that might have to be disbursed in response to crises.—
ARIF HUSAIN,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Nov. 2025
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Darlene Greene, a member of the town council representing a tract in West Altadena, told me that the ordeal of rebuilding had driven some of her constituents into mental-health crises.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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New York is a crossroads for them at the edge of the continent, like a traffic circle with east-west routes running along the ocean or north-south routes going up the harbor or to New Jersey.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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The crossroads sustainable fashion now finds itself at could rebalance trust in green claims, giving companies with less genuine impact investment an easy way out, Allweiss says, and making space for the truly committed to step up and be properly acknowledged.—
Bella Webb,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tinderboxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderboxes. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
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