1
as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
officials sought to calm the situation, which had grown into a tinderbox
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2
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
while the country's prime minister was meeting with the U.S. president, a political tinderbox was igniting at home
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tinderbox
But years of misguided policies could not simply be erased, since so many forests had become gigantic tinderboxes.
—
Francis Fukuyama, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2014
In such a dangerous, tinderbox environment, Israel desperately needs both international support and internal cohesion.
—Max Boot, Washington Post, 31 July 2024
Together, these risks have made South Asia a nuclear tinderbox.
—Nicholas L. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2019
This Year By Shane Croucher Senior Editor 0 Thanksgiving always falls soon after an election, and in recent years American politics has gained a febrile intensity—making this year's conversation over turkey a potential tinderbox.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tinderbox 
Francis Fukuyama, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2014
In such a dangerous, tinderbox environment, Israel desperately needs both international support and internal cohesion.
—Max Boot, Washington Post, 31 July 2024
Together, these risks have made South Asia a nuclear tinderbox.
—Nicholas L. Miller, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2019
This Year By Shane Croucher Senior Editor 0 Thanksgiving always falls soon after an election, and in recent years American politics has gained a febrile intensity—making this year's conversation over turkey a potential tinderbox.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tinderbox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderbox
Noun
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The Axial Seamount is a massive undersea volcano that reaches more than 3,600 feet above the seabed, 300 miles offshore.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA TODAY,
1 Feb. 2025
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The volcano — known by its Māori name Taranaki Maunga — is no longer under the ownership of the New Zealand government as of Jan. 30, NBC News reported.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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He was sworn into office less than two months ago and has responded to one catastrophic crisis after another ever since.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
26 Jan. 2025
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Despite the state agency having vast reach and providing forensics services for 80% of California counties — and holding DNA information for all of them — its Bureau of Forensic Services was dealing with its own internal crisis.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The whole situation was captured on Amazon’s Take Us Home documentary.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
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And there's a trust, but verify situation that has to go on here.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near tinderbox
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderbox. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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