WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

hot seat
    n 1: an instrument of execution by electrocution; resembles an
         ordinary seat for one person; "the murderer was sentenced
         to die in the chair" [syn: electric chair, chair,
         death chair, hot seat]
    2: a difficult position where you are subjected to stress and
       criticism

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

52 Moby Thesaurus words for "hot seat":
   ax, beheading, block, burning, capital punishment, cross,
   crucifixion, death chair, death chamber, decapitation, decollation,
   defenestration, drop, electric chair, electrocution, execution,
   fusillade, gallows, gallows-tree, garrote, gas chamber, gassing,
   gibbet, guillotine, halter, hanging, hemlock, hemp, hempen collar,
   judicial murder, lapidation, lethal chamber, maiden, necktie party,
   noose, poisoning, rope, scaffold, shooting, stake, stoning,
   strangling, strangulation, the ax, the block, the chair,
   the gallows, the gas chamber, the guillotine, the hot seat,
   the rope, tree