1
as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
that troubled region remains one of the world's most dangerous flash points
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flash point
But between these major flash points were hundreds of smaller moments that caught the internet’s attention.
—
Natasha Frost, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
But the draft has remained controversial – even becoming a flash point in heated gender wars.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 26 Nov. 2024
The Tennessee law emerged as an ideological flash point last year amid conservative backlash to a Nashville gender-affirming care clinic that treated some high-risk adolescents.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 24 June 2024
The case became a flash point in the nation’s debate over racial injustice and crime, as well as the city’s ongoing struggle to deal with homelessness and mental health crises in a transit system used by millions of New Yorkers every day.
—Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flash point 
Natasha Frost, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
But the draft has remained controversial – even becoming a flash point in heated gender wars.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 26 Nov. 2024
The Tennessee law emerged as an ideological flash point last year amid conservative backlash to a Nashville gender-affirming care clinic that treated some high-risk adolescents.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 24 June 2024
The case became a flash point in the nation’s debate over racial injustice and crime, as well as the city’s ongoing struggle to deal with homelessness and mental health crises in a transit system used by millions of New Yorkers every day.
—Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flash point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point
Noun
-
The system has been in place since 2017 because catching the sunrise from the top of this volcano is supposedly a transcendent experience.Graham Averill, Outside Online, 6 Jan. 2025
-
But despite the catastrophic effects of the eruption, the identity of the volcano responsible had long been the subject of significant debate.Newsweek, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Across the last two decades, America has been experiencing a notable maternal health crisis.Cynthia McEwen, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
-
In addition to defending these policies, Newsom is prioritizing urgent action on the state's ongoing wildfire crisis.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The obesity epidemic is a ticking time bomb, and the current system of trial and error isn't cutting it.Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
-
The desperation to turn their season around and defuse the ticking time bomb of a potential Fox trade request could motivate the Kings to call Miami about Butler despite the Heat's bluster about not trading him.Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Things apparently reached a boiling point when the boyfriend’s 65-year-old mother recently got engaged.Toria Sheffield, People.com, 11 Jan. 2025
-
Things seemed to reach a boiling point after the team’s 20-17 loss to the woeful Panthers in Germany.Charlotte Carroll, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.Mike Hutton, Post-Tribune, 19 July 2017
Noun
-
The match couldn’t have been more off from nearly the onset, and a possible breaking point was reached after weeks of unravelling when Skinner was held out of the lineup for Sunday’s 5-3 road loss to the Anaheim Ducks.Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
-
Here, however, there’s a distinctly feminist twist, with Demi Moore’s Elisabeth Sparkle pushed to her breaking point by an entertainment industry eager to discard women over 50.Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The Celtics wilted offensively in the second half and in crunch time as bricks piled up.Boston Herald, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024
-
Congress is in crunch time to keep the federal government operating into the new year.Anna Spiegel, Axios, 13 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near flash point
Cite this Entry
“Flash point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash%20point. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share