tinderbox
noun
tin·der·box
ˈtin-dər-ˌbäks 
1
a
: a metal box for holding tinder and usually a flint and steel for striking a spark
b
: a highly inflammable object or place
2
: a potentially explosive place or situation
Examples of tinderbox in a Sentence
That old house is really a tinderbox.
officials sought to calm the situation, which had grown into a tinderbox
Recent Examples on the Web
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
The incredibly tight and expensive housing market in L.A. was another tinderbox waiting to explode.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tinderbox 
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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
The incredibly tight and expensive housing market in L.A. was another tinderbox waiting to explode.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tinderbox
Dictionary Entries Near tinderbox
Cite this Entry
“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tinderbox. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tinderbox
noun
tin·der·box
-ˌbäks
1
: a metal box for holding tinder and usually a flint and steel for striking a spark
2
: something that can easily catch fire
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