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
The former Soviet space remains a tinderbox, still reckoning with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which should be thought of not as an event but as a process, as the historian Serhii Plokhy has aptly put it.
—
Michael Kofman, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021
Ironically, the seasonal drought that had turned Los Angeles County into a tinderbox kept many reptiles and amphibians safe initially.
—Anton Sorokin, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
This was the moment of all-encompassing, high-stakes political stances, in which people looked out to see good always fighting evil — the far right taking up its tiki torches or antifa roving the streets — and culture turned into a perpetual tinderbox.
—Ross Barkan, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
May said climate change has contributed to periods of heavy rain — which causes plant life to grow — followed by extended periods of drought — which dries those plants out, turning them into perfect fire fuel, leading Southern California to its current tinderbox state.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Michael Kofman, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021
Ironically, the seasonal drought that had turned Los Angeles County into a tinderbox kept many reptiles and amphibians safe initially.
—Anton Sorokin, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
This was the moment of all-encompassing, high-stakes political stances, in which people looked out to see good always fighting evil — the far right taking up its tiki torches or antifa roving the streets — and culture turned into a perpetual tinderbox.
—Ross Barkan, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
May said climate change has contributed to periods of heavy rain — which causes plant life to grow — followed by extended periods of drought — which dries those plants out, turning them into perfect fire fuel, leading Southern California to its current tinderbox state.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderbox
Noun
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Its volcanoes also extend further south into Antarctica.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
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Photo by haspil/Shutterstock Dominica With green mountains, active volcanoes, black-sand beaches, waterfalls, and hot springs, the true luxury of Dominica is its natural wonders.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
AFAR Media,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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As the government scrambles, President Evelyn Mitchell (Angela Bassett) enlists former President George Mullen (Robert De Niro) to lead a crisis response team dubbed the Zero Day Commission.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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Thick paperwork still in my hand, the rape crisis counselor’s new underwear still on my body, a hospital band on my wrist.—
Amanda Nguyen,
TIME,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Fixing the run defense can help all the other pieces fall into place and the collection of young defenders can take advantage of better situations.—
Paul Dehner Jr.,
The Athletic,
11 Mar. 2025
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The comedian stopped by Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club and spoke about the situation.—
Regina Cho,
VIBE.com,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderbox. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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