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lightning rods

noun

plural of lightning rod
as in sitting ducks

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rods
  1. sitting ducks
  2. targets
  3. victims
  4. prey
  5. butts
Noun
  • In Ukraine, tanks—the backbone of 20th-century armies—have become sitting ducks for drones.
    — Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of sitting ducks
Noun
  • The swarms can autonomously screen targets, identify camouflage, and determine target locations while building a broader picture of their surroundings.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Ukrainian forces struck eight Russian infrastructure targets supporting the war effort over the past 24 hours, including a refinery in the Yamalo-Nenets region and a port in Dagestan, Zelenskyy said Thursday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of targets
Noun
  • The victims and the first responders were honored before the game.
    — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • In practice, though, victims of instant-payment fraud often recover little.
    — Pawan Jain, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of victims
Noun
  • Nature has blessed certain types of carnivorous plants with pretty colors, pleasant fragrances, and sticky, sugary emissions, all the better to attract and trap its prey.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Yes, the specific angle of the setting sun against the mountain's unique topography creates a shadow that resembles a cougar chasing its prey.
    — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of prey
Noun
  • The vaping industry says the technology saves lives and the cartridges are not nearly as bad a blight as cigarette butts.
    — Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Indeed, that whiskey was finished for two years in sherry butts.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of butts
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.

Browse Nearby Words

lightning rod
lightning rods
light (on or upon)
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Cite this Entry

“Lightning rods.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rods. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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