as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation
there is no bright-line rule governing the issue
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Recent Examples of bright-line
When the choice is between the CPM and something other than the CUT method or a CUT-like unspecified method, the bright-line comparability requirements imposed by reg.
—
Ryan Finley, Forbes.com, 23 Feb. 2026
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 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
Ryan Finley, Forbes.com, 23 Feb. 2026
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright-line
Adjective
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Chapman followed with an RBI single, and the crowd cheered as many fans jumped to their feet in obvious relief.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The voice on Lars’s tablet insisted that teaching was one of the most obvious tasks to delegate to humanoids.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The point of dropping bombs in Cuba, then, wouldn’t be to subdue the Cuban armed forces so much as to produce a visible, unmistakable rupture—a before and after that Trump can point to.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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The message to investors is unmistakable.—
Jeff Coller,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Then Evans made another 3, prompting Pitino to turn his back in apparent disbelief.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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The White House’s inability to grasp the agency of others — its apparent lack of a theory of mind for everyone outside its walls — gives Democrats, especially, a distinct advantage.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Details on when the council will meet were not immediately clear.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
While there is no law in Connecticut explicitly prohibiting the use of plug-in panels, also known as balcony solar, the need for interconnection agreements with local utilities and a lack of clear regulations has effectively stifled their widespread adoption, experts say.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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On his first solo release in eight years, 100 gecs’ mutant-pop prankster turns his attention to relatively straightforward big-tent EDM—but not without a little noise-scene provocation.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
25 Mar. 2026
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Bottom line Gold bullion coins are one of the more straightforward ways to add physical gold to a portfolio, but the details matter.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Nowhere is this more evident than in Florida, where there are 281 local and state agencies with over 300 agreements, according to a Miami Herald analysis of ICE data.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
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This shift is particularly evident in the popularity of T-Shirt Bras, which are designed to vanish under clothing while providing a smooth, rounded shape.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Food and drink Like everything else at The Rooster, the food has a distinct sense of place but also a cosmopolitan sensibility.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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Because of its distinct grooves and marks, the stone piece was believed to be some kind of board game – but obviously no rulebook was dug up to confirm this.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The case has sparked a broader conversation about the military’s use of artificial intelligence in weapons systems and the level of deference AI companies should give to the government in how their technology is used.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
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The future of Greenland, by contrast, was less prominent given that broad agreement exists regarding its place in the kingdom.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bright-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright-line. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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