as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
The debate has become a lightning rod for national thought leaders looking to target California’s policies or the ultra-rich.
—
Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Kluwe became a lightning rod for backlash from conservatives in 2025 after his initial viral city council comments in February.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The boat strikes have become a political lightning rod for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, after survivors of a strike in September were killed in what many Democrats have called a war crime.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2025
This groundbreaking film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival and became a lightning rod in the culture wars, with conservative politicians attempting to defund the NEA over its support.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Kluwe became a lightning rod for backlash from conservatives in 2025 after his initial viral city council comments in February.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The boat strikes have become a political lightning rod for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, after survivors of a strike in September were killed in what many Democrats have called a war crime.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2025
This groundbreaking film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival and became a lightning rod in the culture wars, with conservative politicians attempting to defund the NEA over its support.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
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In this case, that makes Dumars and his team sitting ducks for anyone else with designs on their score.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Shipping lanes suffered, neutrality became meaningless, and actual fishing vessels became sitting ducks.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Gordie is invisible to his mother and a whipping boy to his father.—
Sezin Devi Koehler September 1,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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So are discarded fishing nets and all sorts of mesh that can stop a drone from hitting its target.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Kellogg’s high-growth snack business was much more viable as an acquisition target without the sluggish cereal division attached.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Lawmakers complained when the Justice Department made only a limited release last month, but officials said more time was needed to review an additional trove of documents that was discovered and to scour the records to ensure no sensitive information about victims was inadvertently released.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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In the car, when Irvin briefly turned his attention away from the victim, the man reached for his own gun and shot Irvin three times in the head.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The jeans fit tight at first, but stretch after a few hours and form to your body — not to mention the butt-lifting effect that shows off your figure.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Aside from looking like the whole thing was written and produced by her staff, Melania makes the cardinal sin of just being simply, butt-numbingly boring, especially in the forever-taking last act of sitting through the inauguration all over again in eye-drooping detail.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Predator species are crucial to the state’s ecological systems, keeping populations of prey animals like deer and elk from growing too large and boosting biodiversity.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This is where the species spend their productive summer months, feasting on small crustaceans and other seafloor prey.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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