as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
Ironically, natural flavors have become more of a lightning rod because natural flavor is an umbrella term that covers a massively diverse category of ingredients.
—
Ali Bouzari, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
The Trump adviser has been a lightning rod for controversy in the early weeks of the new administration.
—Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
Former Reba co-stars Melissa Peterman (as Gabby, the needy and dramatic bartender) and Reba McEntire already have proven chemistry, and any scene between the two is a lightning rod for plenty of chuckles.
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
But their hypothesis has been a lightning rod for criticism, mostly because lightning doesn't happen often enough to trigger enough chemical reactions over something as big and spread-out as the ocean.
—Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Ali Bouzari, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
The Trump adviser has been a lightning rod for controversy in the early weeks of the new administration.
—Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
Former Reba co-stars Melissa Peterman (as Gabby, the needy and dramatic bartender) and Reba McEntire already have proven chemistry, and any scene between the two is a lightning rod for plenty of chuckles.
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
But their hypothesis has been a lightning rod for criticism, mostly because lightning doesn't happen often enough to trigger enough chemical reactions over something as big and spread-out as the ocean.
—Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
-
Maybe instead of rats the cartoon should show sitting ducks.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
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
-
Tillis’s seat will be a top target for Democrats to flip in 2026.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Ukraine is fielding carrier drones or motherships to transport FPVs to the target area before launching them.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Once identified, the kit dynamically loads a counterfeit login page tailored to that provider, often with the victim’s email address already filled in.—
Alex Vakulov,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The gallery was filled with the victim’s friends, colleagues and family.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Years later, the cigarette butt found in Selonia Reed's car was sent for DNA testing.—
Vladimir Duthiers, Paul LaRosa,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Honestly looking at the old models those butts were not good just…anatomically, even for the often unusual proportions of comic character.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The research team used advanced 3D imaging technology to find the ancient ant had many features similar to modern dirt ants, including distinctive mandibles with 12 triangular teeth for catching prey.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Their larvae live in small holes in the turf and wait for their prey to walk by.—
Kevin Gepford,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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