as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
Baraka claims Habba improperly ordered his arrest and prosecution for allegedly trespassing at Delaney Hall, a detention center near Newark Airport that has become a lightning rod for opponents of President Trump’s widening crackdown on undocumented immigration.
—
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 June 2025
The 41-year-old former MVP has been a lightning rod of controversy in the media for expressing conservative opinions during podcast appearances the last four years.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 May 2025
While all aviation accounts for just two percent of global carbon emissions, and private jets comprise only two percent of that, business aviation remains a lightning rod for anti-wealth campaigners who position private flyers as mass polluters.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Bodies of all kinds sought access to, and challenged each other’s claims to, American citizenship—and hair became a lightning rod for all of it.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 June 2025
The 41-year-old former MVP has been a lightning rod of controversy in the media for expressing conservative opinions during podcast appearances the last four years.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 21 May 2025
While all aviation accounts for just two percent of global carbon emissions, and private jets comprise only two percent of that, business aviation remains a lightning rod for anti-wealth campaigners who position private flyers as mass polluters.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Bodies of all kinds sought access to, and challenged each other’s claims to, American citizenship—and hair became a lightning rod for all of it.
—Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
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Humans are sitting ducks for this application of an intimate, emotional chat bot that provides constant validation without the friction of having to deal with another person’s needs.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
22 June 2025
-
Drones like the Shahed which fly in a straight line with no attempt to evade ought to be sitting ducks.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Noun
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On Tuesday Bayern Munich takes on Benfica and Boca Juniors faces whipping boys Auckland City.—
Joseph O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
Once more, Turkey seems to have become a whipping boy for all manner of interests, some of which have little to do with the realities of Turkey itself.—
Hugh Pope,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Oct. 2010
Noun
-
As of July 1, 2025, the new target reductions in the carbon intensity of transportation fuels are 30 percent below 2010 levels by 2030 and 90 percent below by 2045.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
While the Hendrickson possibility is still an option, another name has been suggested as a possible target for the Packers.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
Noun
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According to a letter sent to victims' family members discussing a new plea agreement, cited by the outlet, however, Kohberger is expected to enter a guilty plea on all charges.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
1 July 2025
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The unresolved legal process has gripped observers across the United States, resurfacing debates about the death penalty, victims' rights and the responsibilities of prosecutors in high-profile cases.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
Noun
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The wildcard in the second fight, at least for Serrano, was the cut that was opened above her eye from a head butt.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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For the latter, Robinson stopped singing at one point and, with deadpan delivery, suggested the only thing that helped with his mental health struggles was a Brazilian butt lift, before shaking his rear for the giddy crowd.—
jsonline.com,
jsonline.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
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These predators typically patrol altitudes below 10,000 feet, especially around dawn when their prey begins flying again after nighttime rest.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
To test the theory, researchers analyzed the isotopes in the individual whiskers of leopard seals to identify their prey sources over a period of multiple years, according to a June 24 news release from the Georgia Aquarium, which was involved in the study.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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