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
In the series—which begins in the early 1960s and unfolds in a linear timeline—after two wars within five years, Indian physicist Homi Jehangir Bhabha publicly advocates for India to become a nuclear power.
—
Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Alien: Earth will premiere on Tuesday, August 12, with the first two episodes available to stream on Hulu at 8 pm ET and on the FX linear channel at 8 pm ET/PT, and on Disney+ internationally on August 13.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2025
San Pedro Creek Culture Park’s linear continuity is only broken in one place, for a block, just south of the stretch through the heart of downtown.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Tucked around a partition wall sporting a two-way linear fireplace is a kitchen outfitted with sleek Poliform cabinetry, an eat-in island, and Miele, Wolf, and Sub-Zero appliances.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for linear
Time, 13 Aug. 2025
Alien: Earth will premiere on Tuesday, August 12, with the first two episodes available to stream on Hulu at 8 pm ET and on the FX linear channel at 8 pm ET/PT, and on Disney+ internationally on August 13.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2025
San Pedro Creek Culture Park’s linear continuity is only broken in one place, for a block, just south of the stretch through the heart of downtown.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Tucked around a partition wall sporting a two-way linear fireplace is a kitchen outfitted with sleek Poliform cabinetry, an eat-in island, and Miele, Wolf, and Sub-Zero appliances.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for linear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for linear
Adjective
-
To survive, many walk a tightrope: confident, but not too confident; straightforward, but not too direct; passionate, but not too emotional.—
Yann Dang,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Operating costs will be funded through direct billing, grant writing, the health department’s operating budget and supplemental private fundraising.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Some songs are two verses, some songs are straight through, but there’s still a refrain and a chorus.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
-
The rest of his teammates totaled just two hits as the Yankees lost their fifth straight game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Employers who are not developing a straightforward and accessible pathway to inclusion – at the company and individual level – will remain at risk of employment tribunal losses.—
Nancy Doyle,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
The checks, from the company that became Hess Corp., were straightforward.—
Jacob Orledge,
ProPublica,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Linear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/linear. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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