variants
or volcanos
as in time bombs
a potentially explosive place or situation
after months of tension the roommates' living situation was a volcano
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of volcanoes
Nicaragua has 27 volcanoes, eight of which are active.
—
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Melting associated with these volcanoes unlocks carbon that’s been trapped inside rocks for thousands of years, bringing it to Earth's surface.
—Ben Mather, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2026
The world is home to gigantic storms bigger than Australia, 100-mph winds pummeling its northern reaches and a rocky moon named Io orbiting it that is notoriously riddled with lava-spewing volcanoes.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
However, South Africa’s history was wrought with geological conflict as erupting volcanoes destroyed traces of preexisting dinosaurs while those beasts were still alive.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026
Normally, earthquake swarms happen near volcanoes or geothermal fields.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
The city offers a mix of culture, volcanoes and close beaches.
—Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
The Faroes formed over 50 million years ago as volcanoes erupted, blanketing the land in flows of lava that solidified into basalt.
—Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Jan. 2026
According to the Smithsonian Institution, Mount Aso is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
Melting associated with these volcanoes unlocks carbon that’s been trapped inside rocks for thousands of years, bringing it to Earth's surface.
—Ben Mather, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2026
The world is home to gigantic storms bigger than Australia, 100-mph winds pummeling its northern reaches and a rocky moon named Io orbiting it that is notoriously riddled with lava-spewing volcanoes.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
However, South Africa’s history was wrought with geological conflict as erupting volcanoes destroyed traces of preexisting dinosaurs while those beasts were still alive.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026
Normally, earthquake swarms happen near volcanoes or geothermal fields.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
The city offers a mix of culture, volcanoes and close beaches.
—Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
The Faroes formed over 50 million years ago as volcanoes erupted, blanketing the land in flows of lava that solidified into basalt.
—Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Jan. 2026
According to the Smithsonian Institution, Mount Aso is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volcanoes
Noun
-
Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There are several other emotional powder kegs that need one little spark, and those babies are going all the way off.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But more potential flash points loom.—
JILL LAWLESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Policymakers expect other flash points.—
Alan Greenblatt,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Volcanoes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volcanoes. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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