powder keg
noun
1
: a small usually metal cask for holding gunpowder or blasting powder
2
: something liable to explode
Examples of powder keg in a Sentence
Political instability has made the region a powder keg.
the immigration bill has become a political powder keg for legislators on both sides of the aisle
Recent Examples on the Web
In the series, Dent will attempt to solve Batman's murder as a powder keg ignites in the city without the Dark Knight there to protect it.
—
Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2023
The play begins with a gathering of skeptical seekers reluctant to engage in this powder keg of a room.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024
Despite a worldwide powder keg that seems to continue to grow, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authoritarian regime continues the bloodshed unchecked with no articulated end game.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2024
What follows is a portrait of high school as a powder keg full of beaus, bullies, and bohemians that could explode into drama at a moment’s notice.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2024
Extreme weather caused by global warming has for years increased the threat of raging wildfires across the American West, with extreme heat and drought turning dense forests into powder kegs.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
In the near term, the looming powder kegs are in Taiwan and Ukraine, where Russian and Chinese territorial ambitions have led to inflamed—if often inconsistent—responses from Washington.
—Blaise Malley, The New Republic, 5 Oct. 2023
That all creates a powder keg under the current circumstances.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2023
The Taliban is back in power in Afghanistan and Iraq remains a geopolitical powder keg, somewhat aligned to Iran’s theocratic regime.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2023
Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2023
The play begins with a gathering of skeptical seekers reluctant to engage in this powder keg of a room.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024
Despite a worldwide powder keg that seems to continue to grow, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authoritarian regime continues the bloodshed unchecked with no articulated end game.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2024
What follows is a portrait of high school as a powder keg full of beaus, bullies, and bohemians that could explode into drama at a moment’s notice.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2024
Extreme weather caused by global warming has for years increased the threat of raging wildfires across the American West, with extreme heat and drought turning dense forests into powder kegs.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023
In the near term, the looming powder kegs are in Taiwan and Ukraine, where Russian and Chinese territorial ambitions have led to inflamed—if often inconsistent—responses from Washington.
—Blaise Malley, The New Republic, 5 Oct. 2023
That all creates a powder keg under the current circumstances.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2023
The Taliban is back in power in Afghanistan and Iraq remains a geopolitical powder keg, somewhat aligned to Iran’s theocratic regime.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'powder keg.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near powder keg
Cite this Entry
“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powder%20keg. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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