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 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
Funding for Ukraine has been a frequent flash point in government funding negotiations since Russia’s 2022 invasion, and the spigot is likely to close upon Trump’s inauguration.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flash point
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
Funding for Ukraine has been a frequent flash point in government funding negotiations since Russia’s 2022 invasion, and the spigot is likely to close upon Trump’s inauguration.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flash point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point
Noun
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Friday's disruption was one of the most serious since the 2010 eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed clouds of ash into the atmosphere and shut Europe's airspace for days.—
BRIAN MELLEY,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
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Still, the disruption Friday fell short of the one caused by the 2010 eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed clouds of ash into the atmosphere and created trans-Atlantic air travel chaos for months.—
Danica Kirka,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This definitional crisis echoes previous technology buzzwords that became diluted through overuse and marketing hype.—
Luis E. Romero,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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Sims said another valuable discovery was better communicating to the public that information during a public health crisis can change rapidly.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Liam’s family members called him something else: a time bomb about to explode.—
Ames Alexander,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2025
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Coincidentally, Japan’s population peaked in 2011, so don’t give me this demographic time bomb narrative.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In previous seasons, the tension rises in each episode, with secrets uncovered and questions raised, before things ultimately hit a boiling point in the series finale, which has been known to be explosive.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
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According to sources, contenders to succeed Demna at Balenciaga could include Pieter Mulier, who has heated up Alaïa to the boiling point, and Daniel Roseberry, so far the most successful creative director at Schiaparelli, having led the couture house into ready-to-wear.—
Miles Socha,
WWD,
13 Mar. 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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There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.—
Mike Hutton,
Post-Tribune,
19 July 2017
Noun
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Their relationship came to a breaking point when another student witnessed them kissing in January 2017.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
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Others use it as a breaking point for transformation.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The best teams—and the best leaders—do more than show up in crunch time.—
Don Yaeger,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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In crunch time, the Panthers continued to buckle down.—
Kyle Newman,
The Denver Post,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flash point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash%20point. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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