1
: sharply outlined : distinct
2
: free from ambiguity or uncertainty : unambiguous
a clear-cut decision
: an area of forest in which all the trees have been cut down
But the logging has been concentrated in the high-volume old-growth forest, and clear-cuts are spread over almost every one of the region's watersheds.—
Catherine Caufield
Catherine Caufield
also
: clear-cutting
clear-cut; clear-cutting
: to cut down all the trees in (an area of forest)
He says there has been a massive deforestation as the Chinese have clear-cut millions of acres of Tibetan Forests to sell lumber on the export market …—Daniel Goleman
Daniel Goleman… native rain forest experts who harvest plants for traditional healers, make from two to 10 times per hectare the income of a farmer who clear-cuts the forest for planting crops.—Cathy Sears and Robert Neuwirth
Cathy Sears and Robert NeuwirthExamples of clear-cut in a Sentence
Adjective
a clear-cut case of plagiarism that resulted in her immediate dismissal
clear-cut instructions that even an idiot should be able to follow
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
But when a patient has autism or IDD and presents with a medical condition that may be less clear-cut, those same standards of care too often are lacking.
—Maura Sullivan, Boston Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Well, the results were the same (a 7-4 loss to Columbus), but that doesn’t mean the Wild need to worry about their clear-cut No. 1.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Nabers is the clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver for Dart and has become one of the top up-and-coming stars in the entire NFL.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clear-cut
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.
Adjective
How to value new Dupont has created an investor debate that isn’t as clear-cut as Qnity.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
But when a patient has autism or IDD and presents with a medical condition that may be less clear-cut, those same standards of care too often are lacking.
—Maura Sullivan, Boston Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Well, the results were the same (a 7-4 loss to Columbus), but that doesn’t mean the Wild need to worry about their clear-cut No. 1.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Nabers is the clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver for Dart and has become one of the top up-and-coming stars in the entire NFL.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clear-cut
Cite this Entry
“Clear-cut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clear-cut. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share