1
as in volcano
a potentially explosive place or situation
that troubled region remains one of the world's most dangerous flash points
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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
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Recent Examples of flash point
The Kapadia incident was the latest flash point between Grierson and the Jewish community.
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Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
The company’s latest offer includes reinstating an annual bonus that averaged around 3.7% of wages and was dropped from the initial agreement, a flash point that striking Machinists cited repeatedly in interviews.
—Julie Johnsson, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2024
As public benefits are a source of controversy in every election year, current proposals to give Medicare recipients long term care at home is certain to be a continuing political flash point.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
The outpost, a World War II–era ship called the Sierra Madre, which Manila intentionally grounded a quarter-century ago on the shallow reef known as Second Thomas Shoal, has emerged as an unlikely but critical flash point.
—Marites Dañguilan Vitug, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flash point 
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
The company’s latest offer includes reinstating an annual bonus that averaged around 3.7% of wages and was dropped from the initial agreement, a flash point that striking Machinists cited repeatedly in interviews.
—Julie Johnsson, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2024
As public benefits are a source of controversy in every election year, current proposals to give Medicare recipients long term care at home is certain to be a continuing political flash point.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
The outpost, a World War II–era ship called the Sierra Madre, which Manila intentionally grounded a quarter-century ago on the shallow reef known as Second Thomas Shoal, has emerged as an unlikely but critical flash point.
—Marites Dañguilan Vitug, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flash point
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flash point
Noun
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There are fresh reasons to go, including a burgeoning wine scene that benefits from wide swaths of fertile ground around the Popocatépetl volcano, some 40 miles west of the city limits.Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
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North Sulawesi’s Ruang volcano also erupted in the spring, prompting authorities to evacuate more than 12,000 people.Reuters, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Information about suicide warning signs and resources for people in crisis can be found at the end of this story.Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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Over the course of the four-hour training, people learn how to identify the signs, ask the right questions, be the most active listener and direct those in crisis to the proper resources to help keep them safe.Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Europe’s demographic challenges are becoming a ticking time bomb for the region’s economy, with Morgan Stanley delivering a grim prediction for its effects on GDP.Jason Ma, Fortune Europe, 14 Oct. 2024
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The ticking sound in capitals around the world is a demographic time bomb – of a sort unimaginable only a couple of generations ago.Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Oct. 2024
Noun
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However, tensions within the family reached a boiling point when Jamie Dutton (Wes Bentley) made a bold move by publicly calling for his father's impeachment.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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Islanders have been dealing with economic turmoil stemming from a financial crisis that reached its boiling point in 2015, when Puerto Rico accumulated about $72 billion in public debt — yet, unlike other U.S. jurisdictions, couldn't legally file for bankruptcy.Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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There's always one shot that leaves a golfer shaking his or her head.Mike Hutton, Post-Tribune, 19 July 2017
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Delimitros said one of the truck’s side view mirrors struck her in the head, causing minor injuries.David Hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, 19 July 2017
Noun
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Your simmering frustrations from the past month or two reach a bit of a breaking point early in the month before changing form, or perhaps putting you in a better position to actually do something about it in the coming weeks.Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2024
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However, things reached a breaking point in episode 8 when it was revealed that Stephen went off to do a sleep test one night, but ended up sexting another woman while there, despite being engaged to Monica.Joelle Goldstein, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Austin Reaves, one of the Lakers’ best shooters, missed two earlier in crunch time.Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
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But with Nadal serving at 1-2 and facing three break points at 0-40, the Spaniard reverted once more to the guy who knows a bit about what to do at crunch time on this court.Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 28 July 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near flash point
Cite this Entry
“Flash point.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flash%20point. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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