Thesaurus results for FLASH POINT

flash point

noun

Definition of flash point

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

Relevance

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

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 flash point The dispute over the route became one of the defining flash points of the conflict in Northern Ireland. — Amanda Ferguson Reuters, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026 One likely flash point will be the policies of the Monticello Association, a private organization that oversees the Jefferson-family cemetery at Monticello. — Andrew Lawler, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2026 Some investors see a 5% yield on the 10-year Treasury as the next potential flash point. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Littrell's beachfront property has become a flash point in the beach battles. — Debbie Elliott, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flash point

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point

Noun

The world’s first demonstration of a subsea geothermal power plant has taken place near an active underwater volcano almost a mile below the ocean surface.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
To go in a mine, to go on top of a semi-active volcano, to go on a Bulgarian river with a drunk boat captain.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of volcano

Noun

The ever-rising risk premium demanded by investors for holding those bonds shows that traders are still unconvinced that the French government has a plan to resolve its budget crisis.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
But concrete reef structures powered by artificial intelligence could help to combat the environmental crisis.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of crisis

Noun

These privileged few will be sitting on a time bomb of their own making, similar to that faced by political and economic elites during the waning years of the Ming dynasty.

— Carl Minzner, Foreign Affairs, 5 Oct. 2026
In Europe, multiethnic capitals are pilloried by the far right as demographic time bombs, ground zero for invasions of unwanted foreigners.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of time bomb

Noun

Growing tensions between tourists and locals hit a boiling point in Spain recently as hundreds of thousands of residents flooded the streets of Barcelona, Madrid and other Spanish cities to protest skyrocketing housing costs.

— Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Charles’ resentment reached a boiling point in 1884, when his and Adam’s father, Cyrus Trask (Tracy Letts), enlisted Adam in the Army despite Charles being the far superior soldier.

— Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of boiling point

Noun

When he was fatally shot, Kridner and Abernathy said Garza had raised the golf club above his head and swung it toward Kridner.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Betsy Smith, the head of the Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit which operates the park, cheered the passage of the bill.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of head

Noun

This time around, traders often cite the booming (and opaque) private credit market and AI datacenter plans funded too much by debt — some of it off balance sheet — as likely breaking points.

— Sean Conlon, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
Keep in mind, there is a breaking point.

— Shep Hyken, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Definition of breaking point

Noun

Although Lee had said the depth would allow for multiple guys to be ready for crunch time, the Hornets did not have a comeback opportunity, trailing by as much as 36 late in the fourth quarter.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Plus, despite the up-and-down nature of his first six-plus quarters, Webb showed confidence in crunch time.

— Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of crunch time

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flashlights

flash point

flash points

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Style

“Flash point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash%20point. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of flash point

noun

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