as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
But elections could act as a lightning rod for frustration over political repression to tip over into unrest.
—
semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito touched on two lightning rod cases Friday in explaining the pitfalls and promises of originalism.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 3 Oct. 2025
Rory McIlroy was the lightning rod for the invective, and so was his wife.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
JPMorgan tries to exude an aggressively nonpartisan and apolitical attitude even as the financial sector’s approach to climate has become a lightning rod in Washington and in statehouses around the country.
—Justin Worland, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito touched on two lightning rod cases Friday in explaining the pitfalls and promises of originalism.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 3 Oct. 2025
Rory McIlroy was the lightning rod for the invective, and so was his wife.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
JPMorgan tries to exude an aggressively nonpartisan and apolitical attitude even as the financial sector’s approach to climate has become a lightning rod in Washington and in statehouses around the country.
—Justin Worland, Time, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
-
Club owners are kind of sitting ducks.—
Keith Sharon,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Prisoners feared they were purposefully trapped in the A Tunnel, sitting ducks for a response from corrections officers.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Gordie is invisible to his mother and a whipping boy to his father.—
Sezin Devi Koehler September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Yet Hojlund only has to look at Scott McTominay and how Conte revitalised his career in Naples after years of being a United whipping boy by some sections of the fan base.—
Emmet Gates,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Nvidia did not disclose any financial investment, timeline, or training targets, and did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Advertisement As the world fails to meet its 2025 Paris Agreement target, climate leaders from across industries are working overtime to make up for the lack of global governmental action.—
Erin McMullen,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Some analysts argue that while Christians have been targeted by Boko Haram and other Islamist groups seeking to impose their extreme interpretation of Islamic law, Muslims, including those considered moderate, have also been victims of those groups.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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According to the investigators' notes, the victims left a sliding door open on the night of the attack for Goncalves' dog, who was found unharmed in her bed.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Adame was previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2024 for giving an ultimately fatal silicone butt injection to 26-year-old Karissa Rajpaul in 2019, according to the LA Times.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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But Morgan has long been known for talking about her family — husband Chuck Morgan is the butt of many a joke — and her life in Knoxville, Tennessee.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
These spiders use their unique appearance and odor to attract prey.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Unlike bears and big cats, which kill their prey and then consume it, canines oftentimes tire their prey, bring it down, and start feasting on and around the hind quarters while the animal is still alive.—
Josh Honeycutt,
Outdoor Life,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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