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Definitions

lightning rod

NOUN
protection from lightning strike
Synonyms


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.

Vein ultimately became a lightning rod for much of this frustration.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 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

As prime minister, Oli became a lightning rod for protester fury.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

Since the startup Anthropic launched Claude for Financial Services last summer, “LSEG shares have been a lightning rod for market fears about AI disruption risk,” Jefferies analyst Tom Mills wrote in a note last week.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Over time, Reggie would become both a lightning rod and a prism through which people in the community, prosecutors, legislators, and others around the country would view themselves and their own behavior.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel