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 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
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 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
-
Add to the Compost Pile Sending banana peels to the compost bin is the easiest—and perhaps most obvious—way to use them.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Targets at safety It’s become obvious that this year’s safety draft class has the chance to produce a good amount of quality starters.—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Nine total jawbones emerged over time, each displaying that same unmistakable twist.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
-
But no matter the sub that fired the torpedo, the historical significance is unmistakable.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And yet what’s readily apparent is that this weird, fragile, insular family is genuinely keen on folding Tommy into their lives.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Officers then began taking apart the tank, which was not factory standard, and discovered the woman lying in a puddle of gasoline, appearing disoriented and suffering from apparent chemical burns to her legs and feet; she was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, treated and quickly released.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Though the conversation didn't quite reach any actionable solutions beyond what has been discussed as already in progress, like Rawls' work, there was one clear message potently felt across the room — one of urgency.—
Monisha Ravisetti,
Space.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The WhatsApp logs show Carvajal deleted a total 14 messages sent by other participants in the chat and 42 of his own messages before the Herald obtained the logs, so the full extent of his participation is not clear.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Also, the device parts are affordable and straightforward.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The treatments are straightforward—body scrubs, massages, facials in any combination.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That restraint was evident during Iran’s conflict with Israel last year and subsequent US aerial attacks, when China similarly only offered rhetorical support.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The in-demand event planner and lifestyle expert, who’s put on shindigs for celebs like Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, and Matthew McConaughey, has put his own spin on the seven-bedroom manse, evident in touches like a bedroom with textured gold wallpaper and a floral-print laundry room.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But Yee hopes that straight talk and her distinct lack of ornamentation will count for something with California voters.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Their resistance carried distinct risks.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The tensions inside the AP — and Rinehart’s articulation of a case many managers believe but are reluctant to make — reveal a broader conflict playing out across the media over how AI should be applied within journalism, a costly craft filled with strong-willed individuals.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
-
However, if disruptions last significantly longer, storage facilities in Gulf countries could quickly reach capacity, forcing broader production cuts and adding further upward pressure on oil prices.—
,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bright-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright-line. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
