as in alcohol
illegally produced liquor
college students secretly mixing up a batch of white lightning in the school lab
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of white lightning
Don’t let the green mist tinged with white lightning and rotating cosmic orifices fool you, however: Ingesting psychedelic drugs is not recommended before watching this film.
—
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
Above the patch is another white lightning bolt.
—Omari Sankofa Ii, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2021
One, the stereotype is as dated as Moon Pies and white lightning.
—Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 11 June 2020
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
Above the patch is another white lightning bolt.
—Omari Sankofa Ii, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2021
One, the stereotype is as dated as Moon Pies and white lightning.
—Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 11 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for white lightning
Noun
-
Powell gave up alcohol during filming.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The outlets added that Flores is on probation from a 2023 conviction involving a gun and DUI, which bars him from possessing firearms or drinking alcohol.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The question, delivered via pay phone, is an old security prompt, and Bob, with a memory fried by pot and booze, cannot remember the answer.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
-
During Prohibition, waiters famously slipped sips of bootleg booze to patrons from flasks tucked inside their apron pockets.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Audience online have embraced the musical's campy humor, jaw-dropping stage illusions and sing-along score, with bootleg of the production going viral on TikTok and YouTube.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
As Allen pulls the handoff for the naked bootleg, Hawes comes off his block with the defensive end’s sole attention on the uber mobile Allen.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“White lightning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/white%20lightning. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share