Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun tinderbox

2 senses of tinderbox

Sense 1
tinderbox -- (a dangerous state of affairs; a situation that is a potential source of violence; "the Balkans are the tinderbox of Europe")
       => situation -- (a complex or critical or unusual difficulty; "the dangerous situation developed suddenly"; "that's quite a situation"; "no human situation is simple")

Sense 2
tinderbox -- (a box for holding tinder)
       => box -- (a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid; "he rummaged through a box of spare parts")