as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
As vilification of the Founders and the Revolution became more common, both in academia and in society at large, Wood functioned as part elder statesman and part lightning rod.
—
Craig Bruce Smith, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
The fund quickly became a lightning rod on Capitol Hill, with many Republicans bucking the White House and opposing it.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 7 June 2026
No tracks would seem out of place strewn across the Abbey Road Studios cutting room floor — like if that fabled rooftop concert had been a lightning rod for entry into the powerpop mayhem of the ’70s rather than ultimately the final page of the storybook.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
Gorman’s death quickly became a lightning rod in the polarizing discourse over immigration policy, as national and local conservative politicians placed blame on the state’s sanctuary laws.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Craig Bruce Smith, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
The fund quickly became a lightning rod on Capitol Hill, with many Republicans bucking the White House and opposing it.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 7 June 2026
No tracks would seem out of place strewn across the Abbey Road Studios cutting room floor — like if that fabled rooftop concert had been a lightning rod for entry into the powerpop mayhem of the ’70s rather than ultimately the final page of the storybook.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
Gorman’s death quickly became a lightning rod in the polarizing discourse over immigration policy, as national and local conservative politicians placed blame on the state’s sanctuary laws.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
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In Ukraine, tanks—the backbone of 20th-century armies—have become sitting ducks for drones.—
Nancy A. Youssef,
The Atlantic,
17 June 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.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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The Kerch road and rail crossing, opened by Putin in 2018, has been the target of previous Ukrainian attacks.—
Gianluca Mezzofiore,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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The interceptor carries a small payload tailored for neutralizing drones and similar aerial targets while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
Noun
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Investigators determined the victim was Edgar Carlos Garcia, then 39, of Mexico, who died after sustaining fatal injuries during an altercation that took place inside the warehouse.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2026
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The Israeli strikes killed five people around the town of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, according to the official news agency NNA, and the army said a soldier was along the victims.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Noun
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The cotton-blend pants have a barely there feel, plus tummy control and butt-boosting powers.—
Eva Thomas,
InStyle,
20 June 2026
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The two butt heads and Woody knocks Buzz out of a window, turning the other toys against the vintage cowboy.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Noun
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Adult caimans consume a wider variety of prey than younger animals, further increasing their ability to thrive in different habitats.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
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Magnificent Frigate-bird — Relentless defensively; hunts by chasing other birds and forcing them to drop their prey.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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