Synonyms of sitting ducks

sitting ducks

noun

plural of sitting duck

as in targets

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

• targets
• victims
• prey
• butts
• lightning rods
• marks
• whipping boys
• fall guys
• pilgarlics
• goats
• mockeries
• laughingstocks
• scapegoats

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• troublemakers
• gossips
• talebearers
• tattlers
• gossipers
• libelers
• tattletales
• tormentors
• torturers
• defamers
• traducers
• teasers
• hecklers
• deriders
• teases
• baiters
• libelists
• needlers
• taunters
• ribbers
• mockers
• scoffers
• scorners
• ridiculers
• lampooners
• insulters
• satirists
• caricaturists
• parodists

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sitting ducks

In Ukraine, tanks—the backbone of 20th-century armies—have become sitting ducks for drones. — Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026

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

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

Club owners are kind of sitting ducks. — Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025

Prisoners feared they were purposefully trapped in the A Tunnel, sitting ducks for a response from corrections officers. — Michael Collins, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025

Those lucky/sitting ducks were at the center of a manifold creative pressure, like the core of a planet pulled spherical by gravity. — Kate Colby october 2, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025