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
Nigeria, on track to become more populous than China by the end of the century, could turn central Africa into a tinderbox.
—
Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
After almost a year of a brutal war with Hamas in Gaza, Israel is at the center of a tinderbox of multiple, interrelated Middle East conflicts.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
Forests have become tinderboxes overgrown with trees, shrubs, and other fuels due to lack of maintenance and decades of fire suppression—to the point where 80 million acres are in need of restoration.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
The big picture: Both Trump and President Biden will now face pressure to dial down the temperature ahead of an election that has transformed the country into a tinderbox, writes Axios' Zachary Basu.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 14 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
After almost a year of a brutal war with Hamas in Gaza, Israel is at the center of a tinderbox of multiple, interrelated Middle East conflicts.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
Forests have become tinderboxes overgrown with trees, shrubs, and other fuels due to lack of maintenance and decades of fire suppression—to the point where 80 million acres are in need of restoration.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
The big picture: Both Trump and President Biden will now face pressure to dial down the temperature ahead of an election that has transformed the country into a tinderbox, writes Axios' Zachary Basu.
—Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 14 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderbox
Noun
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Oahu is a popular tourist destination that is home to numerous beaches, volcanos, and Peal Harbor, among other attractions.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
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However, this area is now inhabited by about 400,000 people, and with an uptick in seismic activity, understanding this volcano is now more important than ever.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Last month, Sacks co-hosted a launch party at the Occidental, a venerable restaurant near the White House where political operatives once worked to defuse the Cuban missile crisis over crab cakes and pork chops.—
Evan Osnos,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
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Greece, which faced a major economic crisis a decade ago, has since experienced a strong rebound and a booming tourism sector under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Noun
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When Crosby was finally ready to go, Tsamis signed him and immediately put him into a pressure situation.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2025
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There’s pressure in these situations, of course, and those pressures get magnified as the postseason extends further and further.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderbox. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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