as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
In recent years, DEI has become a social and political lightning rod for lawmakers, corporate leaders and conservative activists who have sought to cast such initiatives as unfair and even racist, with some emboldened by the Supreme Court’s gutting of affirmative action.
—
Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 22 Jan. 2025
The practice, which Mueller acknowledged became more prevalent in the past five to 10 years, has become a lightning rod for department critics.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
Statues on college campuses have long been lightning rods for the issues and debates coursing through society.
—Mary Logan Bikoff, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Age was one of the lightning rods of the 2024 presidential election, as voters repeatedly expressed concerns about President Biden's fitness for office before a disastrous debate performance helped force him out of the race.
—Ivana Saric, Axios, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lightning rod 
Nicquel Terry Ellis, CNN, 22 Jan. 2025
The practice, which Mueller acknowledged became more prevalent in the past five to 10 years, has become a lightning rod for department critics.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
Statues on college campuses have long been lightning rods for the issues and debates coursing through society.
—Mary Logan Bikoff, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Age was one of the lightning rods of the 2024 presidential election, as voters repeatedly expressed concerns about President Biden's fitness for office before a disastrous debate performance helped force him out of the race.
—Ivana Saric, Axios, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
-
This sitting duck would be another victim in the submarine’s reign of terror.—
Sean Kingsley,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Feb. 2025
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The alternative: Residents risk being sitting ducks for future blazes. Consider Pacific Palisades.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC News,
22 Jan. 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
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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
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Trump said Friday that the Pentagon and Department of Education are DOGE's next targets.—
Zac Anderson,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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In recent years, inclusion mandates and training have wormed their way into virtually every facet of American life, including (but certainly not limited to) Hollywood, corporations and academia, just to name a few of the most prominent targets.—
Matt K. Lewis,
Twin Cities,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In January, they were spotted together visiting the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena, Calif., to help distribute food and supplies to victims of the Eaton Fire.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
8 Feb. 2025
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There was a young woman who dressed as a Boston Marathon bombing victim for Halloween.—
Kelsey McKinney,
Rolling Stone,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Sirianni, who recently led the Eagles to a dominating 40-22 win over Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX, was the butt of NFL jokes as recently as Week 6.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Feb. 2025
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No example summed up how much the tush push can be a pain in the butt to the opposition quite like when the Eagles used it to maddening perfection against Washington in the NFC championship game.—
Dan Gelston,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Bakker shared a number of graphs that showed that predator–prey ratios dropped over time.—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
8 Feb. 2025
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With one blow, the mantis shrimp can defend their territory or kill its prey.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
7 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near lightning rod
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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