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
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The sturdy build quality ensures durability against small knocks and bumps, which is important for something built with children as its target market.—
Tantse Walter,
Space.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Tillis’s seat will be a top target for Democrats to flip in 2026.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
-
Preliminary investigation indicates there was an incident between people in the parking lot just before the victim was shot.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Along the outer hip, in the groin area, in the butt or thighs or even a painful sensation radiating down from the hips through either or both legs.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
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Pickle pizza and pork butt platters are among the new concessions debuting at Target Field for Thursday's Twins home opener.—
Kyle Stokes,
Axios,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Despite its tiny size, the Etruscan shrew is a fierce and fast hunter, relying on speed and agility to catch its prey.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2025
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The carnivorous species can hunt both from the trees and the ground, catching prey with 2-inch teeth, which are very long relative to their body size, the San Diego Zoo says.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightning rod.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rod. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
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