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
For most of its run time, Never Let Go slinks along slowly, but its final act explodes like a powder keg.
—
Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for powder keg 
Laura Bradley, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for powder keg
Thesaurus Entries Near powder keg
Cite this Entry
“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powder%20keg. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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