as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
the region's political instability has turned it into a ticking time bomb
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Recent Examples of time bomb
The obesity epidemic is a ticking time bomb, and the current system of trial and error isn't cutting it.
—
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
The desperation to turn their season around and defuse the ticking time bomb of a potential Fox trade request could motivate the Kings to call Miami about Butler despite the Heat's bluster about not trading him.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Most of them are unable to return home, and now face a ticking time bomb of uncertainty and fear, unsure of what the future holds.
—Juan Wulff, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
What to watch: How many other compounding ratchet time bombs are out there in unicorn-land, and if that is what finally unclogs the IPO pipeline.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for time bomb 
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
The desperation to turn their season around and defuse the ticking time bomb of a potential Fox trade request could motivate the Kings to call Miami about Butler despite the Heat's bluster about not trading him.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Most of them are unable to return home, and now face a ticking time bomb of uncertainty and fear, unsure of what the future holds.
—Juan Wulff, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
What to watch: How many other compounding ratchet time bombs are out there in unicorn-land, and if that is what finally unclogs the IPO pipeline.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for time bomb
Thesaurus Entries Near time bomb
Cite this Entry
“Time bomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/time%20bomb. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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