lightning rod

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A two-term congressman whose father served for 10 years on Capitol Hill, Collins has been a lightning rod for controversy since arriving in Washington.

From Slate • May 28, 2026

The cables can be deadly, especially in thunderstorms, when they become a slippery lightning rod.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Still, UMA has been a lightning rod for controversy in previous resolution disputes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

The ending, which I won’t spoil here, has become a lightning rod of controversy that cannot be destroyed, no matter how much acrimonious electricity it attracts.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

Upon her return to Manhattan, Sandy Pittman found that she’d become a lightning rod for a great deal of public anger over what had happened on Everest.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer