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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It was found that in Illinois, there is no legal time limit for when a driver has to take an alcohol test after a crash.—
Megan De Mar,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Officers arrived to find a large group of people were watching over a pen holding cash and drinking alcohol in the backyard where roosters were engaged in battle while a referee monitored the contest, the Sheriff's Office said.—
Scott Butler,
Florida Times-Union,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Don’t miss the Espresso Martini and Tonic, a bubbly way to start the evening, or the Phony Negroni for those going booze-free.—
Melinda Sheckells,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Make sure to let your panna cotta base cool fully before adding the booze.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Maye knocked out the Broncos by scampering all alone to his left on a third-down naked bootleg, Josh McDaniels’ best play-call on a day of bad weather and good defense.—
Andrew Callahan,
Hartford Courant,
26 Jan. 2026
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Getting their starts with quarterback Drake Maye, who booked the Patriots' trip by gaining just enough for a first down on a bootleg sweep to seal the victory at the end of the fourth quarter.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“White lightning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/white%20lightning. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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