as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation
there is no bright-line rule governing the issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bright-line
Crafting bright-line tests that separate commodities from securities, or creating a new category, will be legally complex.
—
Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
There is no bright-line definition for hardship—it’s determined by the employer under the terms of the retirement plan and based on facts and circumstances.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
None of these cases, for instance, is likely to result in the full restoration of the bright-line rules established with the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, rules based in part on the lessons of our battles against authoritarian monarchy in the seventeenth century.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024
Baron’s argument is, at first, the least problematic; the killing of his cousin is a bright-line injustice.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024
And there’s one bright-line issue that many Northern Virginia Democrats said is fundamental to them: full Virginia funding for the Metro transit system.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2024
The route to success in arguing a case before Justice O’Connor lay not in invoking legal doctrine or bright-line rules, but in marshaling the facts to demonstrate a decision’s potential impact.
—Linda Greenhouse, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023
The new draft guidelines are not bright-line laws or regulations, and US antitrust enforcement will continue to reflect longstanding legal precedents, senior administration officials emphasized Tuesday in a call with reporters.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 19 July 2023
Whatever its justification, the explicit reference requirement is not the kind of straightforward, bright-line test that the Fiat judgment and Kokott’s Amazon opinion present it to be.
—Ryan Finley, Forbes, 17 July 2023
Becca Bratcher, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
There is no bright-line definition for hardship—it’s determined by the employer under the terms of the retirement plan and based on facts and circumstances.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
None of these cases, for instance, is likely to result in the full restoration of the bright-line rules established with the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, rules based in part on the lessons of our battles against authoritarian monarchy in the seventeenth century.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024
Baron’s argument is, at first, the least problematic; the killing of his cousin is a bright-line injustice.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024
And there’s one bright-line issue that many Northern Virginia Democrats said is fundamental to them: full Virginia funding for the Metro transit system.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2024
The route to success in arguing a case before Justice O’Connor lay not in invoking legal doctrine or bright-line rules, but in marshaling the facts to demonstrate a decision’s potential impact.
—Linda Greenhouse, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023
The new draft guidelines are not bright-line laws or regulations, and US antitrust enforcement will continue to reflect longstanding legal precedents, senior administration officials emphasized Tuesday in a call with reporters.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 19 July 2023
Whatever its justification, the explicit reference requirement is not the kind of straightforward, bright-line test that the Fiat judgment and Kokott’s Amazon opinion present it to be.
—Ryan Finley, Forbes, 17 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright-line
Adjective
-
And then there are the descriptions of the additional terms, which may not be obvious.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
But a sharp turn straight into country seems like far too obvious a path for a singer-songwriter who has quietly done her own thing.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
The public display hit televisions and phone screens across the country and was an unmistakable signal that the Trump administration was not done flexing its political muscle in California.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
19 July 2025
-
Dignity Through Every Stage Of Life The shift in conversation is unmistakable.—
Karen Fonseth,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Adjective
-
In apparent disbelief, Berger simply sank to her knees, her arms outstretched and a huge grin on her face, and watched as her jubilant teammates sprinted towards her to celebrate.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
20 July 2025
-
Netflix has a new #1 show, Untamed, a series about a federal agent investigating an apparent murder in Yosemite National Park.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
Now it's become clear that electric vehicles won’t take over as quickly as expected.—
Stuart Dyos,
The Tennessean,
23 July 2025
-
But his bet is clear: That in a fractured media world, personality, tone, and trust matter more than legacy or even scale.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
Usually, first-round contracts are straightforward, with terms outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.—
Eric Jackson,
Sportico.com,
24 July 2025
-
Watching the Dragon Ball franchise in release order is fairly straightforward.—
Chris Snellgrove,
EW.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
The talent is evident, yet the three aim to stay humble.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 July 2025
-
That blend of tradition and innovation is evident in both the menu and the experience.—
Chelsea Davis,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Literature has a distinct ability to illuminate truth’s multiplicities; writers like Ullmann remind readers that fact and fiction are fragile categories, and that collapsing them can yield enthralling results.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
-
Today, over 3 in 5 cannabis consumers are aware of terpenes: organic compounds present in plants, fungi and cannabis, and are responsible for distinct scents, flavors and therapeutic effects.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Further details about Stargate and the broader partnership are not immediately known.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
-
If President Donald Trump moves forward with plans to reinstate broad tariffs on dozens of countries in August, and follows through on additional threats, prices could climb even further.—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bright-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright-line. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share