LIGHTNING RODS Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

lightning rods

noun

plural of lightning rod

as in sitting ducks

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning rods

Noun

In Ukraine, tanks—the backbone of 20th-century armies—have become sitting ducks for drones.

— Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
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

Definition of sitting ducks

Noun

Filling a government gap The new pledge comes as governments fall far behind their own nature-funding targets.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Radar systems detect incoming threats and supply information that helps defensive missiles engage their targets.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of targets

Noun

On Sunday, Jordan’s Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah attended a funeral held for the victims while Jordan’s King Abdullah II visited the injured in the hospital earlier.

— Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Relatives of the victims said the arrests brought them some relief.

— Omar Akour, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of victims

Noun

In Alaska, salmon are one of the main prey sources for belugas—and the fish need cold water to develop their eggs, keep their metabolism stable and prevent energy depletion during long migratory journeys.

— Ryan Green, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
But even the slower, more deliberate decision-making can fall prey to any number of cognitive biases.

— Shayla Love, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of prey

Noun

In the early days, London was still a city of smokers, and Daunt would count cigarette butts on the sidewalk to gauge how many passersby had stopped to look.

— Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Any piece of trash that's smaller than 2 inches is considered micro-litter, with cigarette butts being the most common.

— Katie Standing, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of butts

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“Lightning rods.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning%20rods. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lightning rods

noun

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