1
as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
that troubled region remains one of the world's most dangerous flash points
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2
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
tensions between the two longtime adversaries were at a flash point
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flash point
The move comes after Republican officials ramped up efforts to turn the 2021 order into a partisan flash point ahead of the 2024 election.
—
Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 20 Jan. 2025
The plight of the Palestinians will serve as a flash point, a symbol of inequities in the prevailing international order and, in the eyes of many across the developing world, the unfinished work of decolonization.
—Matias Spektor, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Beyond cultural flash points, Bluesky is also grappling with a range of brass-tacks moderation issues that come as the price of popularity.
—Kevin Collier, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024
Among the major flash points this year: Breakthrough fighting in Syria throws Russia off balance and elevates Turkey.
—Colin Demarest, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flash point
Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 20 Jan. 2025
The plight of the Palestinians will serve as a flash point, a symbol of inequities in the prevailing international order and, in the eyes of many across the developing world, the unfinished work of decolonization.
—Matias Spektor, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Beyond cultural flash points, Bluesky is also grappling with a range of brass-tacks moderation issues that come as the price of popularity.
—Kevin Collier, NBC News, 22 Dec. 2024
Among the major flash points this year: Breakthrough fighting in Syria throws Russia off balance and elevates Turkey.
—Colin Demarest, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flash point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point
Noun
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Magma began flowing at a volcano near the town of Grindavík, where some 40 homes have been evacuated, national broadcaster RUV said.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
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The volcano’s gift This is not the first time banana farming has been under existential threat from Panama disease.—
Colette Davidson,
Christian Science Monitor,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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That’s a stark contrast to Ange Postecoglou’s high-intensity pressing style at Tottenham Hotspur, which is often cited as one of the reasons behind Spurs’ injury crisis and subsequent poor form this season.—
Steve Price,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Their routines, quiet and mundane, signal a growing — and largely invisible — crisis that threatens New York City’s future.—
Jonah Markowitz,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Mendoza said those problems include the ticking time bomb that is the city budget’s structural deficit and how that could spell an adverse effect on Pritzker and the rest of state government.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2025
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With malicious bots continuously scanning the internet for open endpoints, an unprotected app is a ticking time bomb.—
Gerry Gebel,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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On the March 31st episode of Raw, the animosity between Cena and Rhodes reached a boiling point during a fiery promo battle.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
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April 4, 2025 12:43 PM PT In the early 1980s, at the peak of the punk rock scene in Fullerton, the interest and demand for punk in Orange County reached a boiling point during one particular TSOL show at Fullerton College.—
Stephanie Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Cal Fire representatives said the current parking mess has already impacted them because the driveway to their station enters the highway not far from the trail head.—
J. Harry Jones,
Ramona Sentinel,
19 July 2017
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Now, Maineri heads into year 12 with 18 pitchers on his roster, hoping that rising junior Caleb Gilbert and sophomore-to-be Zach Hess will emerge at the top of the pitching rotation.—
John Roach,
NOLA.com,
19 July 2017
Noun
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But the climax on a boat in the Baltic Sea, featuring Michael Stuhlbarg as an uncommonly contemplative Russian mercenary, stretches credibility to the breaking point.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2025
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The tension reaches a breaking point when Sara begins to suspect that Sebas, not Félix, may be responsible for the recent murders.—
Emiliano De Pablos,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The run, made possible in part because of five KU turnovers in the final three minutes, stretched to 15-5 as KU wilted in crunch time.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2025
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Ball didn’t simply jack up shots during crunch time against the Lakers, hoping to shoot the Hornets into a victory.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flash point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash%20point. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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