as in alcohol
illegally produced liquor
college students secretly mixing up a batch of white lightning in the school lab
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Recent Examples of white lightning
First, the white lightning… Bill Whitaker: Wow, that gives a punch.
—
Bill Whitaker, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Don’t let the green mist tinged with white lightning and rotating cosmic orifices fool you, however: Ingesting psychedelic drugs is not recommended before watching this film.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
Above the patch is another white lightning bolt.
—Omari Sankofa Ii, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2021
One, the stereotype is as dated as Moon Pies and white lightning.
—Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 11 June 2020
Bill Whitaker, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Don’t let the green mist tinged with white lightning and rotating cosmic orifices fool you, however: Ingesting psychedelic drugs is not recommended before watching this film.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
Above the patch is another white lightning bolt.
—Omari Sankofa Ii, Detroit Free Press, 1 Nov. 2021
One, the stereotype is as dated as Moon Pies and white lightning.
—Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 11 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for white lightning
Noun
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This diet prioritizes eating vegetables, fruits, beans, olive oil, nuts and fish, and limits consuming meat and dairy with moderate consumption of alcohol.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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An autopsy report on the driver of a gasoline tanker truck that smashed into a light rail abutment along Yale Avenue in Denver on Thanksgiving shows the driver had alcohol and methamphetamine in his system.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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On top of all that, many ski town culinary hotspots have fantastic zero-proof cocktail offerings, including James Beard winner Matt Vawter’s Rootstalk in Breckenridge, where an expansive menu includes a booze-free Old Fashioned, seasonal shrubs and mocktails, and non-alcoholic cider, beer and wine.—
Brittany Anas,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
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Experts also point to fatty, salty food and booze.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While bootlegs have been out there for decades, the Petty estate is finally making the concert officially available, with audio restoration done by Ryan Ulyate.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
4 Feb. 2026
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The Chargers did not incorporate enough play-action bootleg into their offense over the last two years.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“White lightning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/white%20lightning. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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