Synonyms of sitting duck

sitting duck

noun

as in target

a person or thing that is the object of abuse, criticism, or ridicule

those stupid comments just made him a sitting duck for comedians

Synonyms & Similar Words

• target
• victim
• prey
• butt
• lightning rod
• mark
• whipping boy
• fall guy
• pilgarlic
• mockery
• goat
• laughingstock
• scapegoat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gossip
• troublemaker
• tattler
• tattletale
• talebearer
• gossiper
• defamer
• teaser
• tease
• tormentor
• traducer
• torturer
• libeler
• heckler
• needler
• libelist
• baiter
• taunter
• ribber
• mocker
• scorner
• scoffer
• insulter
• ridiculer
• derider
• satirist
• lampooner
• caricaturist
• parodist

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sitting duck

But the companies that transport oil have parked their tankers on either side of the waterway, fearing their huge cargos would be sitting ducks for drone or missile attacks from Tehran as the war escalates. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 9 Mar. 2026

Other than Adobe, which is expensive but very good, these companies are not sitting ducks. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026

Shipping lanes suffered, neutrality became meaningless, and actual fishing vessels became sitting ducks. — New Atlas, 28 Dec. 2025

In other words, a sitting duck. — Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2025