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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of flash point
The gaps hint that a critical flash point of America’s political impasse may be misunderstood.
—
Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 19 Oct. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for flash point 
Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 19 Oct. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for flash point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point
Noun
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Azerbaijan stands out for its exceptionally high concentration of mud volcanoes, NASA said.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
15 Jan. 2025
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Earth and Sky by Francisco Negroni Villarrica, one of Chile’s most active volcanoes, last erupted in 2015.—
Carlyn Kranking,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In Episode 5, the strongest of the five that critics screened for review, Dr. Watson cares for a twenty-something woman amid her increasingly challenging sickle cell crisis.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2025
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The Baltimore City Health Department has implemented several strategies to combat the opioid crisis, focusing on prevention, treatment access and harm reduction.—
Pradeep Thomas,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And Waves, the Czech ticking time bomb historical thriller, audience award winner at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, won over the Academy.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Dec. 2024
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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
Noun
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Relli testified that the bullets grazed his knuckles as the feud reached a boiling point with his childhood friend.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2025
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Heat pumps work by moving and compressing fluids that have a very low boiling point.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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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
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Delimitros said one of the truck’s side view mirrors struck her in the head, causing minor injuries.—
David Hernandez,
sandiegouniontribune.com,
19 July 2017
Noun
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But the travel and costs of obtaining paperwork stretched his resources to breaking point.—
Abel Alvarado,
CNN,
22 Jan. 2025
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Push your ideas to the breaking point before moving forward.—
Mark Kane,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Celtics wilted offensively in the second half and in crunch time as bricks piled up.—
Boston Herald,
Boston Herald,
21 Dec. 2024
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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 30 Jan. 2025.
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