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
Relevance
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderboxes
Noun
-
While on the Croisette, the producers got an alert about volcanoes erupting in Iceland.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Sep. 2025 -
Wetlands need restoration to impound phosphorus that pours from extinct volcanoes and prevent the growth of deadly algae.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
USA Today,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Leaders must stay vigilant against economic volatility and global health crises.—
Aytekin Tank,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
But on the other side of those savings are the former employees who are now facing their own budget crises.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At a crossroads, but with an opportunity.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
And that led to a crossroads moment of self-reflection.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Tinderboxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderboxes. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share