as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
the immigration bill has become a political powder keg for legislators on both sides of the aisle
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Recent Examples of powder keg
Add in the ongoing drama surrounding the team (recent reports indicate star quarterback Jalen Hurts and receiver A.J. Brown have beef with each other), and Philadelphia is potentially sitting on a powder keg that could ignite at any moment.
—
Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
In the update, Cumberbatch and Colman play a seemingly perfect husband and wife with the perfect family, but underneath the façade is a powder keg of resentment and fierce competition that eventually blows.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
The entire country was a messianic powder keg.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Then, as if to light a match to the powder keg of the crowd, HYDE went down to the crowd.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
In the update, Cumberbatch and Colman play a seemingly perfect husband and wife with the perfect family, but underneath the façade is a powder keg of resentment and fierce competition that eventually blows.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
The entire country was a messianic powder keg.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Then, as if to light a match to the powder keg of the crowd, HYDE went down to the crowd.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for powder keg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powder keg
volcano
Noun
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The world is home to gigantic storms bigger than Australia, 100-mph winds pummeling its northern reaches and a rocky moon named Io orbiting it that is notoriously riddled with lava-spewing volcanoes.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
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Washington's Mount Rainier National Park is named for the tallest volcano in the Cascade Range.—
Giovanna Caravetta,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powder%20keg. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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