as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
Among Colorado’s incumbents in Congress, Boebert has long been a fundraising lightning rod.
—
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 16 Apr. 2026
ExxonMobil’s products have fueled the global economy and helped make America the most powerful country in the world, but the company has also become a lightning rod for controversy.
—Alex Kuffner, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Anything less will keep the door wide open for the Pohlad family to be a lightning rod for criticism that is very much deserved.
—Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026
Its octopus-like horizontal limbs seemingly defy gravity, although some are held up with suspension cables, and the tree is rigged with a lightning rod.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 16 Apr. 2026
ExxonMobil’s products have fueled the global economy and helped make America the most powerful country in the world, but the company has also become a lightning rod for controversy.
—Alex Kuffner, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Anything less will keep the door wide open for the Pohlad family to be a lightning rod for criticism that is very much deserved.
—Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026
Its octopus-like horizontal limbs seemingly defy gravity, although some are held up with suspension cables, and the tree is rigged with a lightning rod.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
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As labor complications ensue, a blizzard rages outside trapping the family in their home – sitting ducks for whatever sinister presence might be in there with them.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
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As labor complications ensue, a blizzard rages outside trapping the family in their home – sitting ducks for whatever sinister presence might be in there with them.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The middle class or big corporations don’t want to become the mayor’s whipping boy.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
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There will always be whipping boys at the World Cup, a team who arrive underprepared or in chaos of some description.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
13 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Chargers’ Ladd McConkey put up a Pro-Bowl caliber campaign in ’24 as a first-year target (82 catches, 1,149 receiving yards, seven scores), while Rashod Bateman’s numbers as a rookie in ’22 were merely serviceable (46 grabs, 515 yards, one TD).—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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Higher-income targets may see investment scams.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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An Urban Pathways spokeswoman expressed condolences to the victims and their families in a statement.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
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Officials said that after Cooper’s arrest, the first victim, a runaway, was crying hysterically and denied any involvement in prostitution.—
Samantha Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Complaints about hospital food are certainly not new, and Jell-O and fruit juice are often the butt of related jokes.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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The former inspector general garnered a reputation for high-profile investigations, some of which saw her butt heads with Mayor Brandon Johnson and his administration.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Their diet varies with location and season, depending on what prey is available.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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Because opossums are one of the most common prey species for Burmese pythons, scientists expect that some of the collared animals will eventually be eaten by the snakes, effectively turning the opossums into indirect tracking devices.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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