as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
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
Dreyfus became the lightning rod in a clash between two visions of France.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Few would argue that Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is a bit of a lightning rod.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
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
Dreyfus became the lightning rod in a clash between two visions of France.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Few would argue that Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is a bit of a lightning rod.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
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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
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Those lucky/sitting ducks were at the center of a manifold creative pressure, like the core of a planet pulled spherical by gravity.—
Kate Colby
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 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
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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
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Then, the scammers build fake profiles on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, which includes sending friend requests to people in the target's social media network to give the appearance of mutual friends.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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Ukraine has long sought more air defense as Russia has heavily relied on drone and missile assaults to pound civilian targets, including residential buildings, schools as well as maternity and children’s hospitals, since the onslaught of the war.—
Caitlin McFall,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The victims' identities were not released.—
NPR,
NPR,
13 Oct. 2025
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Monday’s sentencing marks the end of a years-long legal battle between Laffitte and his victims, after Laffitte was reportedly the first to face federal charges as investigators looked to take down the Murdaugh empire.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Jordi Fernandez coached his butt off last season to get Brooklyn to 26 wins.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Striking a pose at the end of the catwalk, Hamlin revealed that the back of her dress was totally open all the way past her butt, which was covered only by teeny tiny thong underwear.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Italian scientist Alessandro Volta studied eel physiology to inspire the first battery, and recent work shows eels use doublets, two rapid spikes, to force rapid prey muscle contractions before the knockout blast.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
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The hope for gold-producing nations like Ghana is to responsibly leverage this bountiful natural resource without falling prey to environmental degradation and civil strife.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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