1
as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
officials sought to calm the situation, which had grown into a tinderbox
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tinderbox
When a young girl impregnated by her pedophile stepfather unwittingly lands there, her arrival is the spark that lights a tinderbox.
—
New York Times, 8 July 2024
Drought conditions in Los Angeles made the area a tinderbox – flammable conditions exacerbated by the fact that Southern California had unusually wet weather from 2022 to 2024.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Jan. 2025
Israel is at the center of a tinderbox of multiple, interrelated Middle East conflicts.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
Millions of Californians already live in tinderbox canyons and at the edges of shrub fields and overgrown forests.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
New York Times, 8 July 2024
Drought conditions in Los Angeles made the area a tinderbox – flammable conditions exacerbated by the fact that Southern California had unusually wet weather from 2022 to 2024.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Jan. 2025
Israel is at the center of a tinderbox of multiple, interrelated Middle East conflicts.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
Millions of Californians already live in tinderbox canyons and at the edges of shrub fields and overgrown forests.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tinderbox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinderbox
Noun
-
The devastation following the volcano’s famous eruption in 79 CE is well-documented across multiple archeological sites at Pompeii, Herculaneum, and elsewhere.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
16 July 2025
-
Wetlands need restoration to once again catch phosphorus that pours from extinct volcanoes and prevent the growth of deadly algae.—
Shaun McKinnon,
AZCentral.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Things happen, our heroes react, a potentially world-ending crisis is easily averted and everything is wrapped up in time for dinner.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
-
Yet this rift still coincides with a deepening fiscal crisis.—
Joël Té-Léssia Assoko,
semafor.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Kane said this new program will be unique because a social worker and peer support advocate will present and ready to assist anyone working through a difficult situation or needing more assistance.—
Shelby Slade,
AZCentral.com,
21 July 2025
-
In both instances, the German returned to soccer within months of starting her treatment, citing her need to take her mind off the situation.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinderbox. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share