as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
The incident took place soon after the onset of the Israel-Hamas war and became a lightning rod as tensions between supporters of Israel and Palestinians soared across the nation.
—
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
The hematologist-oncologist quickly became a lightning rod by rejecting rare disease therapies.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
This year’s club has gotten off to a rough start and entered play Wednesday at 14-22 under first-year manager Tony Vitello, who has become a lightning rod among the fan base.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
That tracks — a year out from her lightning rod of a Blue Origin flight.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
The hematologist-oncologist quickly became a lightning rod by rejecting rare disease therapies.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
This year’s club has gotten off to a rough start and entered play Wednesday at 14-22 under first-year manager Tony Vitello, who has become a lightning rod among the fan base.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
That tracks — a year out from her lightning rod of a Blue Origin flight.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
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Everyone else would be a sitting duck, or at the very least extremely annoyed.—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 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.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 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 group blamed both the army and RSF and said some drones use visual monitoring technology capable of distinguishing targets, raising concerns that the attacks may not have been indiscriminate.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
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Barca’s No 1 forward target is Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who club sources believe would be keen to join, while recognising negotiations with Atletico could be very tough.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Employing a cast of non-professional locals, the film playfully interrogates the brutal but bungled occupation while also allowing its actors — many of whom are descendants of the fascists’ victims — to reinterpret and reclaim a chapter in their city’s past.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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Not the only victim The Miami-Dade case is not the only time Readon has been accused by investigators of defrauding homeowners.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Some of the rich men used fancy butt cushions to protect themselves from the hard wooden courtroom benches, Wired reported.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
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Feel free to duck out during the jury votes — but get your butt back on the couch for this bit, because this is what Eurovision is all about.—
Glen Weldon,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Noun
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But for predatory species that need prey to eat, growing them in a lab is more challenging.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
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As prey moved deeper or disappeared in warming waters, marine mammals were forced to travel farther and work harder to find food, leaving more stranded or in distress along the coast.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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