as in sitting duck
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Recent Examples of lightning rod
Between the lines: Sacks has been a lightning rod for controversy in recent months.
—
Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
In the late 1970s, plans for the building became a lightning rod for racist-tinged opposition.
—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 19 Nov. 2024
Trump has become such a political lightning rod here that Democrats running for all offices, including state legislative races, often focus much of their messages on their opposition to the former president, noted state Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 2024
Columbus Day has long been a political lightning rod given the destruction wrought on native communities after Columbus journeyed to North America, ushering in an age of European exploration of the Western Hemisphere.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lightning rod 
Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
In the late 1970s, plans for the building became a lightning rod for racist-tinged opposition.
—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 19 Nov. 2024
Trump has become such a political lightning rod here that Democrats running for all offices, including state legislative races, often focus much of their messages on their opposition to the former president, noted state Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield.
—Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 6 Nov. 2024
Columbus Day has long been a political lightning rod given the destruction wrought on native communities after Columbus journeyed to North America, ushering in an age of European exploration of the Western Hemisphere.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN, 13 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lightning rod
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rod
Noun
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Gi-hun and Player 001 debated about whether to proactively attack the other side during the night, rather than just be sitting ducks.Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 27 Dec. 2024
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Both Vicario and Forster, his deputy, have had their share of close shaves this season, most recently at Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago, where Kulusevski felt like a sitting duck for Tyler Adams when the straight pass arrived.Stuart James, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024
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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As of October, Japan hosted 2.05 million foreign workers, but the country must more than triple this number by 2040 to meet its economic growth targets, the government's Japan International Cooperation Agency has projected.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
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But, despite significant progress, there isn’t a single country that’s on track to meet its elimination targets for hepatitis B, mostly because of inadequate political commitment and funding from governments.Ingfei Chen, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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All three victims were brought to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock by a 20-year-old Little Rock man who was driving the vehicle the victims were in at the time of the shooting, the release says.Ainsley Platt, arkansasonline.com, 28 Dec. 2024
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Eliot Gross, the deputy coroner of Bucks County, confirmed to USA TODAY that the female victim was Haddon.Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024
Noun
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My butt was covered in ornaments, including large baubles and pointy wooden edges.Elise Taylor, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
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The snapper begins by setting his feet wide and hunkering down, making sure his butt isn’t too high or too low.David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Though wildlife vets managed to save his leg that time, his luck ran out a year later when he was caught in a steel trap meant for larger prey.Scott Travers, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
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Evolving dietary patterns The study’s findings suggest squirrels might be best classified as opportunistic omnivores based on their willingness to hunt and consume live prey, particularly when there is an abundant supply.Julianna Bragg, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
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 5 Jan. 2025.
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