flash point
noun
1
: the lowest temperature at which vapors above a volatile combustible substance ignite in air when exposed to flame
2
: a point at which someone or something bursts suddenly into action or being
Examples of flash point in a Sentence
The city became a flash point as political tensions grew.
The situation reached a flash point when union leaders urged the workers to protest.
Recent Examples on the Web
As public benefits are a source of controversy in every election year, current proposals to give Medicare recipients long term care at home is certain to be a continuing political flash point.
—
Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
The outpost, a World War II–era ship called the Sierra Madre, which Manila intentionally grounded a quarter-century ago on the shallow reef known as Second Thomas Shoal, has emerged as an unlikely but critical flash point.
—Marites Dañguilan Vitug, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2024
The big picture These types of pursuits have proven to be a major flash point for tech companies.
—Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2024
Though election experts say the choices are designed to make voting a simple act, the use of drop boxes has been anything but uncomplicated since the 2020 election, when receptacles in Wisconsin and around the country became flash points for baseless conspiracy theories of election fraud.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flash point 
Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
The outpost, a World War II–era ship called the Sierra Madre, which Manila intentionally grounded a quarter-century ago on the shallow reef known as Second Thomas Shoal, has emerged as an unlikely but critical flash point.
—Marites Dañguilan Vitug, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2024
The big picture These types of pursuits have proven to be a major flash point for tech companies.
—Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2024
Though election experts say the choices are designed to make voting a simple act, the use of drop boxes has been anything but uncomplicated since the 2020 election, when receptacles in Wisconsin and around the country became flash points for baseless conspiracy theories of election fraud.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flash point
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flash point.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near flash point
Cite this Entry
“Flash point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flash%20point. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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