as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
The project became a political lightning rod, and progress stalled for years while state officials traded blame and the company repeatedly scaled back its plans.
—
Meaghan Tobin, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
That is a lightning rod for the conversation to shift the narrative in hair care, which is a mission of ours.
—James Manso, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025
His first pick in charge — taking Kyle Pitts fourth in 2021 — still is a lightning rod for criticism, and last year’s draft class played the second-fewest snaps in the league.
—Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been a lightning rod for criticism over the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Meaghan Tobin, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024
That is a lightning rod for the conversation to shift the narrative in hair care, which is a mission of ours.
—James Manso, WWD, 20 Feb. 2025
His first pick in charge — taking Kyle Pitts fourth in 2021 — still is a lightning rod for criticism, and last year’s draft class played the second-fewest snaps in the league.
—Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been a lightning rod for criticism over the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
-
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
Noun
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Once more, Turkey seems to have become a whipping boy for all manner of interests, some of which have little to do with the realities of Turkey itself.—
Hugh Pope,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Oct. 2010
-
The Republicans and their puppet master, Donald Trump, are ginning up the machine against immigration and making Mayorkas their whipping boy for chaos at the border.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2024
Noun
-
Five, including their target, were hospitalized, prosecutors said.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
-
De Sousa, a Terps recruiting target, played sparingly at Kansas before transferring to Chattanooga.—
Sam Cohn,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The victim, identified as Jhoser Sanchez, later died in the hospital.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
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Reporters, family members of Sigmon's victims and his lawyer will view the execution inside the same building used for all executions over the past 35 years, although prison officials say the glass separating the witness room from the death chamber is now bulletproof.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Of course, most of the action over at Vula centered around the Beware Advantage that Sai located, which led to a cryptogram puzzle involving animals, colors, letters, and the butt doctor’s unscrambling skills.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Grab one ankle and gently pull your heel back toward your butt.—
Margaret Cirino,
NPR,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For animals like dogs, cats, and monkeys, ear movement helps track sounds, which is crucial for detecting predators or prey.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Popular Science,
27 Feb. 2025
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Both types of bass are highly efficient apex predators that hunt down baitfish and other prey.—
Derek Horner,
Outdoor Life,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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