lame duck

[leym duhk] / ˈleɪm ˈdʌk /

NOUN

elected official waiting to leave office

Synonyms

WEAK

crumbling power holdover incumbent loser weak administration weakling

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.

So there may not be any significant surprises from the Fed on Wednesday, especially now that Powell is essentially a lame duck.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

He’s also a lame duck and getting lamer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

Powell became a lame duck almost immediately after President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January 2025.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

Congressional leaders from both parties agree on the need to pass PBM reform, and the current "lame duck" legislative session is an ideal opportunity to do so.

From Salon • Nov. 22, 2024

I’m going along like a lame duck striddling a gutter.

From Cormorant Crag A Tale of the Smuggling Days by Rainey, W. (William)