1
as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
that troubled region remains one of the world's most dangerous flash points
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in crisis
a time or state of affairs requiring prompt or decisive action
tensions between the two longtime adversaries were at a flash point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flash point
In the years since, gun control has continued to be a flash point, but there have been moves in the right direction.
—
Kamye Hugley, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
The arrest became a flash point during his Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2026
This year, the island is a flash point once again.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
European Union nations are just weeks away from a decision on where to host the bloc’s new customs agency, in what could be an initial flash point in the race to pick the next European Central Bank chief.
—Zoe Schneeweiss, Bloomberg, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flash point
Kamye Hugley, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
The arrest became a flash point during his Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2026
This year, the island is a flash point once again.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
European Union nations are just weeks away from a decision on where to host the bloc’s new customs agency, in what could be an initial flash point in the race to pick the next European Central Bank chief.
—Zoe Schneeweiss, Bloomberg, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flash point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point
Noun
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Is this the first study proposing volcanoes affected the AMOC?—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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After checking in, change into your bathing suit and head straight to the main pool which features a swim-up bar that perfectly frames the volcano—nothing will taste as good as that first piña colada after a long travel day.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But the War on Terror persisted and mutated into nightmares in Iraq and Afghanistan, and then Syria, which unleashed that darkness in the form of terrorist states and a refugee crisis that spread anti-Muslim and anti-migrant hatred to Europe, the United States, and beyond.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
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As Hal witnesses crisis and inequality firsthand, the line between observing and acting begins to blur.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Regulators and former employees call it one of the most notorious chameleon schemes — a ticking time bomb on our nation's roadways.—
Ashley Velie,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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Of course, their amity turned out to be a time bomb.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Like, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch nearing a boiling point.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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Their feud was the focus of tabloid gossip for much of 2025 but reached a boiling point late last year after his wedding.—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The reason, an official with knowledge of the meeting plans said, is because King Charles is a head of state, rather than a head of government.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Matt Small, who is in his first season as Lincoln-Way Central’s head coach, was an assistant at Homewood-Flossmoor.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Kansas City Royals might have reached their breaking point against the Yankees in New York on Saturday.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2026
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The tension between engineering and finance reached a breaking point with the 737 MAX as the company tried to compete with Airbus.—
John Pacenti,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Spurs went up 20 by the beginning of crunch time.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Instead, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Jamal Murray were the final three in the running for the league’s crunch time award.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flash point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash%20point. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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