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
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powder kegs
volcanoes
Noun
-
How did volcanoes change the AMOC?—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
From towering volcanoes to fish-flying markets, the Pacific Northwest packs a remarkable range of experiences into one corner of the country.—
Lauren Schuster,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Powder kegs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powder%20kegs. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
