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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Recent Examples of flash point
That flash point foretells an America becoming more polarized the hotter things get, more sharply divided between its rural and urban communities and more hateful and more dangerous.
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Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 19 Oct. 2024
Roughly a century ago, the trial of John T. Scopes marked a flash point in an American culture war—between religious faith and science—that has been waged, in one form or another, to this day.
—John Kaag, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2024
Certification of local results is a key target in this effort, a once-mundane administrative step that has become a flash point in the debate over election security — and a potential opportunity to subvert the will of voters.
—Colby Itkowitz, Washington Post, 26 June 2024
The Kapadia incident was the latest flash point between Grierson and the Jewish community.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flash point 
Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 19 Oct. 2024
Roughly a century ago, the trial of John T. Scopes marked a flash point in an American culture war—between religious faith and science—that has been waged, in one form or another, to this day.
—John Kaag, The Atlantic, 29 Aug. 2024
Certification of local results is a key target in this effort, a once-mundane administrative step that has become a flash point in the debate over election security — and a potential opportunity to subvert the will of voters.
—Colby Itkowitz, Washington Post, 26 June 2024
The Kapadia incident was the latest flash point between Grierson and the Jewish community.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flash point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point
Noun
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On May 2, 2008, the Chaitén volcano in Chile awoke with unexpected fury after more than 9,000 years of dormancy.Ashley Balzer Vigil, Ars Technica, 21 Dec. 2024
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From Bariloche, neighboring alpine towns are easily reachable by car or bus, and day hikes to nearby volcanoes, lakes, and glaciers are plentiful.Nicholas DeRenzo, AFAR Media, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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What could be more low stakes than tan, Orange County teens dating, shopping, and gossiping in the fat years before the subprime-mortgage crisis?Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2024
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The long-lasting crisis revealed numerous gaps in a workforce under immense strain.Caitlin Rivers, WIRED, 27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Most of them are unable to return home, and now face a ticking time bomb of uncertainty and fear, unsure of what the future holds.Juan Wulff, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
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What to watch: How many other compounding ratchet time bombs are out there in unicorn-land, and if that is what finally unclogs the IPO pipeline.Dan Primack, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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At the center of the trend were rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar, whose longtime feud reached a boiling point this year.Angela Yang, NBC News, 21 Dec. 2024
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All of the pressure reached a boiling point in October 2023, when a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle and flung underneath a nearby Cruise vehicle.Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 11 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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Financial uncertainties, health anxieties and the pressures of remote work and childcare in cramped living spaces pushed many marriages to the breaking point.Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 17 Dec. 2024
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Their relationship hit a breaking point at the end of episode 11, where Ramses and Marissa had a conversation about their future and Ramses' concerns about getting married again.Esther Kang, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Ironically, there was another offensive rebound that swung the game against the Huskies in crunch time.Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 26 Nov. 2024
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Barrett showed some excellent composure in crunch time.Eric Koreen, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Flash point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash%20point. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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