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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sitting duck
Maybe instead of rats the cartoon should show sitting ducks.
—
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2025
To the Mach 4 missiles, capable of taking out jets maneuvering at high speed , a Shahed is a sitting duck.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
This sitting duck would be another victim in the submarine’s reign of terror.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
The alternative: Residents risk being sitting ducks for future blazes.
Consider Pacific Palisades.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sitting duck
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2025
To the Mach 4 missiles, capable of taking out jets maneuvering at high speed , a Shahed is a sitting duck.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
This sitting duck would be another victim in the submarine’s reign of terror.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
The alternative: Residents risk being sitting ducks for future blazes.
Consider Pacific Palisades.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sitting duck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sitting duck
Noun
-
Israeli officials have also suggested that regime change in Iran is among the goals of their war, and that Khamenei could be a target for assassination.—
Colin Meyn,
The Hill,
22 June 2025
-
Countries that have managed to build their own nuclear weapons, such as North Korea, become much harder targets for attacks.—
Matthew Tostevin
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
Upon arrival at around 3:35 a.m., officers witnessed the suspect shoot one of the victims through the open front door.—
Audrey Conklin,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2025
-
Many of the victims were retired or near retirement—the IRA piece of the business had appealed to them.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sitting duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sitting%20duck. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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