as in time bomb
a potentially explosive place or situation
after months of tension the roommates' living situation was a volcano
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Recent Examples of volcano
Diamonds preserving chemical reactions The Earth’s mantle is a massive layer that drives volcanoes, recycles the planet’s crust, and regulates its long-term development.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
The clash sees Cliff Curtis’ spurned chieftain Keōua, now high on his own supply as the chosen of the volcano Gods, on the one side; then, Kaina Makua’s reluctant, good-hearted king Kamehameha, and Jason Momoa’s vengeful chief of war Ka’iana on the other.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2025
The religion is heavy-handed, but also surprisingly powerful — especially once the volcano goes boom.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Both displace massive amounts of water, which generate ocean waves that fan out from the quake’s epicenter or the volcano’s vent.
—George Petras, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for volcano
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
The clash sees Cliff Curtis’ spurned chieftain Keōua, now high on his own supply as the chosen of the volcano Gods, on the one side; then, Kaina Makua’s reluctant, good-hearted king Kamehameha, and Jason Momoa’s vengeful chief of war Ka’iana on the other.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2025
The religion is heavy-handed, but also surprisingly powerful — especially once the volcano goes boom.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Both displace massive amounts of water, which generate ocean waves that fan out from the quake’s epicenter or the volcano’s vent.
—George Petras, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for volcano
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volcano
Noun
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Ignoring deforestation is a ticking time bomb for coffee companies, which stand to see production decrease and prices increase in an increasingly hot and dry world.—
Marianne Krasny,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Appointing Mandelson was a time bomb, and the prime minister planted it.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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However, internal conflict between the brash younger generation and the old-school leadership threatens to set a match to this powder keg, which will sweep the Westies into the FBI’s ever-deepening investigation into the Italian mafia.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 2025
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The official synopsis for Eddington, as per A24, reads: In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Sports is a flash point in the NBCU-YouTube talks, which are preceding a major carriage renewal with Disney ahead of a late-October deadline.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
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Rhetoric about Taiwan, the most prominent flash point for Chinese sovereignty, is an example of the historical origins of the issue.—
David C. Kang,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Volcano.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volcano. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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