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
Onstage, Idles felt like a powder keg ready to blow, turning a Queens audience into socially conscious soccer hooligans for the night.
—
William Earl, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024
Sig unbuckled his seat belt, because the stiff nylon was adding pressure to a chest that already felt like a powder keg.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2024
Barak Ravid, Zachary Basu 8 mins ago - World
Israel's new powder keg
Israel's assassination spree in Iran and Lebanon has brought the Middle East closer to a devastating regional war than at any point since Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
—Nick Sobczyk, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024
Amid this powder keg came the drowning of Eugene Williams.
—Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for powder keg 
William Earl, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024
Sig unbuckled his seat belt, because the stiff nylon was adding pressure to a chest that already felt like a powder keg.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2024
Barak Ravid, Zachary Basu 8 mins ago - World
Israel's new powder keg
Israel's assassination spree in Iran and Lebanon has brought the Middle East closer to a devastating regional war than at any point since Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
—Nick Sobczyk, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024
Amid this powder keg came the drowning of Eugene Williams.
—Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for powder keg
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'powder keg.' 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 powder keg
Cite this Entry
“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powder%20keg. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.
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