as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
Among the schools that will be anxiously waiting tonight’s bracket reveal is Miami (Ohio), whose résumé became a lightning rod for debate.
—
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
Ticket prices Tickets have become a political lightning rod as FIFA’s decision to use dynamic pricing and take 15 percent on both ends of resale on their own platform have attracted criticism.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Those air pollution concerns have been a lightning rod for environmental advocacy groups here in the Mid-South, as xAI continues relying heavily on gas turbines to meet its power demands in Memphis and Southaven.
—Neil Strebig, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 5 Mar. 2026
The referendum has been a lightning rod for discussion among residents, a source of confusion for city officials and the subject of a lawsuit brought by business groups, including the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Mar. 2026
Ticket prices Tickets have become a political lightning rod as FIFA’s decision to use dynamic pricing and take 15 percent on both ends of resale on their own platform have attracted criticism.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Those air pollution concerns have been a lightning rod for environmental advocacy groups here in the Mid-South, as xAI continues relying heavily on gas turbines to meet its power demands in Memphis and Southaven.
—Neil Strebig, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 5 Mar. 2026
The referendum has been a lightning rod for discussion among residents, a source of confusion for city officials and the subject of a lawsuit brought by business groups, including the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
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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
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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.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 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
-
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
-
Ultimately, the scammers appear to use their initial contractor targets as unsuspecting mules for the malware payload.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, cited Israel's continued attacks on targets inside Lebanon as a primary source of tension as his country and the United States engaged in peace talks in Islamabad.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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He is then seen slowly approaching the victim, checking his surroundings, and removing his shoes before grabbing her from behind.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The harpsichord was also a victim of the orchestral era.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Keeping your chest up and back flat, hinge at your hips and push your butt back.—
Jenessa Connor,
Health,
10 Apr. 2026
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Others get more personal, as when Anushka (Meaghan Rath), the ineffectual chief ethicist at a Google-like giant, and her oddball inventor husband, Martin (Simon Helberg), butt heads over her skepticism of his work.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most are nocturnal, venturing out at night to hunt fish, insects and other small prey.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
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Most are nocturnal, venturing out at night to hunt for fish, insects and other small prey.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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