as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
Ticket prices Tickets have become a political lightning rod as FIFA’s decision to use dynamic pricing and take 15 percent on both ends of resale on their own platform have attracted criticism.
—
Adam Crafton, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Those air pollution concerns have been a lightning rod for environmental advocacy groups here in the Mid-South, as xAI continues relying heavily on gas turbines to meet its power demands in Memphis and Southaven.
—Neil Strebig, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 5 Mar. 2026
The referendum has been a lightning rod for discussion among residents, a source of confusion for city officials and the subject of a lawsuit brought by business groups, including the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 2 Mar. 2026
For the past several months, the board has been a lightning rod of controversy.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Adam Crafton, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Those air pollution concerns have been a lightning rod for environmental advocacy groups here in the Mid-South, as xAI continues relying heavily on gas turbines to meet its power demands in Memphis and Southaven.
—Neil Strebig, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 5 Mar. 2026
The referendum has been a lightning rod for discussion among residents, a source of confusion for city officials and the subject of a lawsuit brought by business groups, including the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 2 Mar. 2026
For the past several months, the board has been a lightning rod of controversy.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
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As labor complications ensue, a blizzard rages outside trapping the family in their home – sitting ducks for whatever sinister presence might be in there with them.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
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As labor complications ensue, a blizzard rages outside trapping the family in their home – sitting ducks for whatever sinister presence might be in there with them.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The middle class or big corporations don’t want to become the mayor’s whipping boy.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2026
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There will always be whipping boys at the World Cup, a team who arrive underprepared or in chaos of some description.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
13 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Some notable celebrity targets include Anthony Edwards, Terrance Crawford, Keith Lee, Kai Cenat and many more.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
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Operationally, Dark Eagle is built to strike high-value targets in contested environments.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Both victims were under age 5 at the time of the crime, according to the statement.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
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Police say identifying additional victims or witnesses will be critical as the investigation continues.—
Jamie Leary,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Everyone is urged to properly dispose of cigarette butts, matches, and any other flammable items in appropriate containers.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
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The flesh looked like a human brain and smelled like rotten hamburger meat wrapped in gym socks wrapped in butt.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This year, the unusually warm weather in March, plant abundance and a healthy amount of prey were early signals to rattlesnakes to begin their activity.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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Noise could disrupt the whales’ foraging behavior, while increased global warming — tied to the burning of fossil fuels, including oil and gas — could change where their prey fish live, Kiszka said.—
Tammy Webber,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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