sitting duck

noun

: an easy or defenseless target

Examples of sitting duck in a Sentence

The tourists were sitting ducks for local thieves. those stupid comments just made him a sitting duck for comedians
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Bermuda faces a rare one-two punch Bermuda is a sitting duck in the path of twin storms that could deliver a punishing blow this week, even for the seasoned and storm-tested islands. Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025 Russian forces trapped in Ukraine would have been sitting ducks for NATO missiles and aircraft. Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025 Newsom is a sitting duck waiting to get shellacked. Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 30 Aug. 2025 Without the government’s ability to share robust intelligence about new attack methods, SMBs become sitting ducks for cybercriminals who specifically target organizations that can’t afford to lose days or weeks. Cynthia Kaiser, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sitting duck

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sitting duck was in 1942

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sitting duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sitting%20duck. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sitting duck

noun
: an easy or defenseless target
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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