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lightning rod

noun

Definition of lightning rodnext
as in sitting duck

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of lightning rod The cybersecurity threats that AI poses have become a political lightning rod ahead of the midterm elections, as lawmakers face more pressure about regulating the technology and public angst around AI's data center buildout grows. — Cj Haddad, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026 The objection reflects how radically the perception of Khrzhanovsky’s Dau experiment has shifted over the course of two decades — from transcendent art project to exploitative scandal to, now, geopolitical lightning rod. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 In recent weeks, ongoing debate regarding the eligibility of transgender players in the WNBA has made the league a lightning rod for controversy, at times overshadowing the elite basketball being played during the 2026 season. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Flock cameras have recently replaced data centers as the lightning rod of local government. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
  1. sitting duck
  2. whipping boy
  3. target
  4. victim
  5. butt
  6. prey
Noun
  • Only the ridiculous American League could turn Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow from a sitting duck into a potential candidate for Executive of the Year in less than a week.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 30 June 2026
  • In Ukraine, tanks—the backbone of 20th-century armies—have become sitting ducks for drones.
    — Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
Definition of sitting duck
Noun
  • Apparently, this happens all the time because Daisy is Martha’s makeup artist as well as traveling companion, sounding board, and whipping boy.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The former Maple Leaf was a whipping boy in Toronto whenever the Leafs couldn't get past the second round of the playoffs, but his first postseason in Vegas has been downright magical.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026
Definition of whipping boy
Noun
  • President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Ukrainian forces had also carried out overnight strikes against targets in Russia, including an oil refinery in Yaroslavl and a military airfield in the Rostov region.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The software communicates with JetKVM over USB, so even the target computer itself doesn't need network access.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of target
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 victim
Noun
  • His upcoming show next week promises to be another cheeky affair, at least judging by the teaser Martens shared with his 367,000 followers on Instagram on Thursday that showed a woman’s butt and men’s abs behind a steamy glass panel.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • While both places are effective options, the research suggests that the upper butt takes the lead.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of butt
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

Browse Nearby Words

lightning
lightning rod
lightning rods
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Cite this Entry

“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lightning rod

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lightning rod

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