time bomb

noun

1

: a bomb so made as to explode at a predetermined time

2

: something with a potentially dangerous or detrimental delayed reaction

Synonyms

• flash point
• powder keg
• tinderbox
• volcano

Examples of time bomb in a Sentence

He's a time bomb getting ready to explode.

If we don't do something about the pollution problem, we'll be sitting on a ticking time bomb.

Recent Examples on the Web

While the two most difficult cases of the day (so far) are buttoned up, that emotional time bomb Robby was worried about with Collins does come to pass. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025

There’s a great deal of tension going on because there’s a ticking time bomb element to it, but there’s also a desire for Frank to want to take River with him. —Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Oct. 2024

Liam’s family members called him something else: a time bomb about to explode. —Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2025

Coincidentally, Japan’s population peaked in 2011, so don’t give me this demographic time bomb narrative. —Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for time bomb

• diatom
• intercom
• aplomb
• balaam
• cocom
• embalm
• islam
• pogrom
• salaam
• sitcom
• balm
• bom