powder keg
noun
1
: a small usually metal cask for holding gunpowder or blasting powder
2
: something liable to explode
Examples of powder keg in a Sentence
Political instability has made the region a powder keg.
the immigration bill has become a political powder keg for legislators on both sides of the aisle
Recent Examples on the Web
There are several other emotional powder kegs that need one little spark, and those babies are going all the way off.
—
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
This lack of accountability creates a powder keg.
—Joshua Simmons, Sun Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
Nellie keeping things bottled up was a powder keg waiting to blow.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
This week’s incident was the spark many feared amid a growing powder keg of heightened activity by immigration authorities in Minneapolis and nationwide.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
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Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
This lack of accountability creates a powder keg.
—Joshua Simmons, Sun Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
Nellie keeping things bottled up was a powder keg waiting to blow.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
This week’s incident was the spark many feared amid a growing powder keg of heightened activity by immigration authorities in Minneapolis and nationwide.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
Cite this Entry
“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powder%20keg. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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