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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Examples of powder keg in a Sentence
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Pressure grew Sunday to unite the country ahead of an election that has turned America into a powder keg.
—
Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 15 July 2024
In Syria, the Assad regime is attempting to consolidate its authority, but the country remains a sectarian powder keg.
—Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 2 Dec. 2021
But a powerful act of forgiveness on the part of the family diffused the powder keg of violence that was ready to explode.
—A.r. Bernard Sr., Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2024
In the series, Dent will attempt to solve Batman's murder as a powder keg ignites in the city without the Dark Knight there to protect it.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for powder keg 
Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 15 July 2024
In Syria, the Assad regime is attempting to consolidate its authority, but the country remains a sectarian powder keg.
—Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 2 Dec. 2021
But a powerful act of forgiveness on the part of the family diffused the powder keg of violence that was ready to explode.
—A.r. Bernard Sr., Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2024
In the series, Dent will attempt to solve Batman's murder as a powder keg ignites in the city without the Dark Knight there to protect it.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2023
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.
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“Powder keg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powder%20keg. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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