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 ruling has made Sooknanan a lightning rod among conservatives. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2026 The Tottenham full-back has become an emotional lightning rod for fans and his head coach at this World Cup, but his recovery pace and appetite for one-v-one defending will be needed in the difficult conditions of the Azteca. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 4 July 2026 And that’s where Musk somehow is just able to be this movable lightning rod that can do financial alchemy, but then also this attention alchemy. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026 Engelbert capitulated hours after Thomas, a lightning rod for controversy following her latest violent on-court altercation with Caitlin Clark, cast herself as the victim. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 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
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of whipping boy
Noun
  • The top quarterbacks in college football, especially in a play-action vertical offense, are typically sitting around 10 yards on average target depth.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 26 July 2026
  • Instead, the Warriors struck out on their main free-agency target.
    — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of target
Noun
  • Jones said Velasquez and the victim were close friends and lived just a few miles apart.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
  • Patel arrived in Jakarta shortly after talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet concerning joint efforts to combat international online scam operations that cheat victims out of billions of dollars annually.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Definition of victim
Noun
  • Much of Hart’s appeal lies in his willingness to be the butt of the joke, and there are many here at his expense — thankfully not as many as usual targeting his diminutive stature.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 24 July 2026
  • Jaffery’s primary care physician expected all this would be taken into account before, during and after her tummy tuck, breast lift with implants and Brazilian butt lift.
    — David J. Neal July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Definition of butt
Noun
  • But could these large marine mammals also play with their prey just for fun?
    — Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • Orcas are known to play with their food—passing dying prey around to one another, for example, like a macabre game of hot potato.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 23 July 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 27 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lightning rod

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lightning rod

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