tinderbox

noun

tin·​der·​box ˈtin-dər-ˌbäks How to pronounce tinderbox (audio)
Synonyms of tinderboxnext
1
a
: a metal box for holding tinder and usually a flint and steel for striking a spark
b
: a highly inflammable object or place
2
: a potentially explosive place or situation

Synonyms of tinderbox

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Examples of tinderbox in a Sentence

That old house is really a tinderbox. officials sought to calm the situation, which had grown into a tinderbox
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
For three years now, many have feared that Hezbollah’s war with Israel could be the spark that lights the tinderbox. — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 The ongoing drought in Spain has turned the country’s fields and forests into a tinderbox, but those conditions made for ideal eclipse viewing. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026 Arday’s rise and fall has become a tinderbox in Britain’s culture wars, raising questions about Cambridge’s vetting, media accountability and how public scrutiny targets Black academics and diversity initiatives. — Sylvia Hui, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026 Unlike many forests in the American Southwest, where trees are adapted to seasonal drought and frequent fire, these forests can become tinderboxes when subjected to weeks of unusual heat. — Bloomberg, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tinderbox

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tinderbox was in 1530

Rhymes for tinderbox

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Browse Nearby Words

tinder
tinderbox
tinder fungus
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Cite this Entry

“Tinderbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tinderbox. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tinderbox

noun
tin·​der·​box -ˌbäks How to pronounce tinderbox (audio)
1
: a metal box for holding tinder and usually a flint and steel for striking a spark
2
: something that can easily catch fire
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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