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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Recent Examples of tinderbox
That includes talking with his guests about mismanagement of the natural world since Indigenous people were removed from the park, specifically how suppression of the low-severity fires that help maintain healthy forests has created a tinderbox.
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Karen Gardiner, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2024
The two deaths of leaders from Iran's key proxies – one on Iranian soil – threatens to ignite the tinderbox of tensions between the long-time foes.
—Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 31 July 2024
The tinderbox only needed a further spark to ignite real violence, eventually provided by the brutal killing of three children.
—Katie Marie Davies, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2024
Almost immediately, however, the city became a tinderbox for tensions between the Soviets and the West.
—Dmitri Alperovitch, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tinderbox 
Karen Gardiner, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2024
The two deaths of leaders from Iran's key proxies – one on Iranian soil – threatens to ignite the tinderbox of tensions between the long-time foes.
—Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 31 July 2024
The tinderbox only needed a further spark to ignite real violence, eventually provided by the brutal killing of three children.
—Katie Marie Davies, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2024
Almost immediately, however, the city became a tinderbox for tensions between the Soviets and the West.
—Dmitri Alperovitch, Foreign Affairs, 15 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tinderbox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderbox
Noun
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Oceans were forming, volcanoes erupted violently and the climate underwent dramatic shifts.Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 27 Nov. 2024
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On Wednesday, November 20, a volcano near Iceland’s capital erupted, becoming the seventh such event in the area since December.Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Information about suicide warning signs and resources for people in crisis can be found at the end of this story.Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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In a corporate setting, a crisis can result from multiple factors that culminate in a potentially disastrous business problem.Leen Kawas, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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More:The 10 best Thanksgiving TV episodes ever, from 'Friends' to 'The Sopranos' 'Life-threatening situation' on some interstates The snow could cause delays for holiday travelers and create dangerous conditions on major highways.Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
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From the perspective of workers with few specialized skills, the situation is more pessimistic.Hilary Tetenbaum, The Enquirer, 28 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near tinderbox
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderbox. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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