time bomb

noun

Synonyms of time bombnext
1
: a bomb so made as to explode at a predetermined time
2
: something with a potentially dangerous or detrimental delayed reaction

Synonyms of time bomb

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Examples of time bomb in a Sentence

He's a time bomb getting ready to explode. If we don't do something about the pollution problem, we'll be sitting on a ticking time bomb.
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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.
During this same year, Chemours sued the other DuPont companies, claiming it had been handed a financial time bomb because of the PFAS liability it had been left with. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 Malloy crisscrossed the state during his first few months in office, holding 17 town meetings to explain the fiscal ticking time bomb represented by unfunded pension obligations. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026 The sobering Social Security and Medicare reports clearly show that a fiscal time bomb is ticking. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 11 June 2026 That is a real fiscal time bomb that could set off generational warfare in Washington. — Editorial, Boston Herald, 24 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for time bomb

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of time bomb was in 1893

Rhymes for time bomb

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Browse Nearby Words

time-binding
time bomb
time book
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Cite this Entry

“Time bomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/time%20bomb. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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