powder kegs

plural of powder keg
as in volcanoes
a potentially explosive place or situation the immigration bill has become a political powder keg for legislators on both sides of the aisle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of powder kegs There are several other emotional powder kegs that need one little spark, and those babies are going all the way off. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powder kegs
volcanoes
Noun
  • Recent studies discovered the planet is more volcanically active than previously thought, but the researchers found that ash belched out by Venusian volcanoes is not the source of haze particles.
    — Elizabeth Rayne, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The chef will dazzle the crowd with his knife work, building steaming volcanoes out of onions and tossing food to diners to catch in their mouths.
    — Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 16 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Powder kegs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powder%20kegs. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster