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ominous - Giving the impression that something bad, unpleasant or threatening is going to happen.

The dark clouds overhead were an ominous sign that a storm was coming.

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incendiary - Likely to cause fire, violence, strong feelings, or anger.

The prison riot started when some prisoners shouted incendiary remarks in the cafeteria about how awful their living conditions were.

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addictive - The habit-forming quality of a substance or activity that causes someone to become dependent on using it or doing it.

Nicotine is a highly addictive substance found in cigarettes.

noun

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tinderbox - A volatile or tense environment, emotionally or politically charged, likely to erupt in violence or conflict.

During the blackout, the police were concerned about looting, and the downtown felt like a tinderbox ready to explode.

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heresy - An opinion or belief that contradicts established norms or accepted standards.

Galileo was once accused of heresy for claiming the Earth orbits the sun.

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brinkmanship - The art or practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping, typically in politics

At the height of the Cold War, both sides engaged in a risky brinkmanship that nearly cost millions of lives.

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tremor - A slight shaking movement, such as one caused by an earthquake or instability; also a subtle or faint sign of emotion, such as fear or excitement in the voice or body.

Because he was nervous, his voice had a significant tremor during the presentation.

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deluge - A severe flood or overwhelming rush of water.

The heavy rain turned into a deluge, submerging cars and streets

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lethal - Capable of causing death; deadly or fatal.

The venom of that snake is so lethal that one bite can be fatal.

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volatile - An unstable situation that is likely to get worse quickly

Victor realized that he had created a volatile chemical that could easily explode if he wasn't very careful

verb

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detonate - To cause something to explode suddenly and violently.

One small spark is enough to detonate a barrel of fireworks.

verb

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fester - For negative feelings to get worse because they are not being dealt with

After their fight, Joan and David had a long talk to patch things up, because they didn't want to let any bad feelings fester.