as in direct
free from irregularities or digressions in course
the bullets from early firearms were notorious for not following a strictly linear path through the air
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Recent Examples of linear
The idea behind a linear collider is to repeat the basic operation of simpler colliders.
—
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Genome sequencing includes both nuclear DNA -- the large, linear DNA in the cell's nucleus -- and the mitochondrial DNA, the smaller, circular DNA in the mitochondria, which is almost exclusively inherited from the mother.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2025
These things aren't always linear.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
The film experiments with the scale of geological time to investigate the memory of a mountain through a non-linear narrative.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for linear
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Genome sequencing includes both nuclear DNA -- the large, linear DNA in the cell's nucleus -- and the mitochondrial DNA, the smaller, circular DNA in the mitochondria, which is almost exclusively inherited from the mother.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2025
These things aren't always linear.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
The film experiments with the scale of geological time to investigate the memory of a mountain through a non-linear narrative.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for linear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for linear
Adjective
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By sidestepping the fragile transfer process and enabling direct fabrication on liquid, Xu’s method could transform how scientists design lightweight, adaptable technologies across multiple fields.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Sandurz, an underling of Dark Helmet’s, is not a direct parody of any Star Wars character but plays a part similar to that of General Veers or Admiral Piett in the original series.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Eventually, Hina pulled out the W, followed by Uli, as Kele lost their third straight competition.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
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The straight, glossy black hair instantly elevates any look, with a middle part that reads both classic and sharp.—
Noel Cymone Walker,
StyleCaster,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Despite having a relatively straightforward main plot, the first Hades excelled at grafting deep backstories and layered personalities to each of its many characters that fleshed out Greek mythology.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
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The commercial test that will decide competitiveness is straightforward.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Linear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/linear. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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