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
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 route to success in arguing a case before Justice O’Connor lay not in invoking legal doctrine or bright-line rules, but in marshaling the facts to demonstrate a decision’s potential impact.
—Linda Greenhouse, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023
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
Whatever its justification, the explicit reference requirement is not the kind of straightforward, bright-line test that the Fiat judgment and Kokott’s Amazon opinion present it to be.
—Ryan Finley, Forbes, 17 July 2023
Still, Goldsmith Romero warned that the immaturity of the DeFi sector—and crypto more broadly—will mean that future cases will be based on facts and circumstances, rather than a bright-line rule about what constitutes decentralization.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 12 Apr. 2023
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 route to success in arguing a case before Justice O’Connor lay not in invoking legal doctrine or bright-line rules, but in marshaling the facts to demonstrate a decision’s potential impact.
—Linda Greenhouse, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023
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
Whatever its justification, the explicit reference requirement is not the kind of straightforward, bright-line test that the Fiat judgment and Kokott’s Amazon opinion present it to be.
—Ryan Finley, Forbes, 17 July 2023
Still, Goldsmith Romero warned that the immaturity of the DeFi sector—and crypto more broadly—will mean that future cases will be based on facts and circumstances, rather than a bright-line rule about what constitutes decentralization.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 12 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright-line
Adjective
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This told us how well heat was distributed across the cooking surface, where the pan would heat up fastest, and whether there were any obvious hot spots.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 May 2025
-
Upon seeing a photo of him, she was struck by their obvious physical resemblance.—
Carita Rizzo,
People.com,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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There's no official announcement time during a conclave, but there is one unmistakable signal: white smoke.—
Dan Cody,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
-
Indeed, her portraits are unmistakable: characterized by saturated backdrops, tactile surfaces, and a deep reverence for Nigerian studio photography traditions that elevate her sitters to mythic status.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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Despite some apparent limitations in the group, there’s a dual purpose to their playing time.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
9 May 2025
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On their way home to Melbourne, Cave claims their meal at a local pub was interrupted by an apparent interaction with Cage.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Think of a close-to-home tropical paradise, and perhaps Costa Rica comes to mind, or even a Caribbean island destination like Jamaica with its tangle of clear rivers and dense jungles.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
11 May 2025
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Whether the public will give her reports and remarks the same credence as those of prior Surgeons General is less clear.—
Arthur L. Kellermann,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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Pony Bead Pumpkins Ideal for the autumnal season, this adorable and straightforward seasonal craft uses pipe cleaners and beads to create three-dimensional pumpkins perfect for displaying on the mantle or your Thanksgiving tablescape.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2025
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Because the path to parenthood isn't straightforward for everyone, workplaces can transform this journey through supportive policies.—
Cynthia McEwen,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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One of the most effective ways to do this is by specializing in client segments with distinct financial needs, values, and life experiences.—
Jason Katz,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
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Its distinct big band sound and rhythms attracted both young and old on Friday night including Haitian konpa fans pushing walkers.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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Toxic takeover completed a few months before, the Glazer brothers — Joel, Avie and Bryan — were attending their first match at Old Trafford as owners of Manchester United and a new way of thinking was evident.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
11 May 2025
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Acidity dominants, as with many 2024 Bordeaux wines, but complexity is evident in this light juice with fine flavors of young red fruit.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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Yet regulation alone hasn’t resolved broader disparities.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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On a broader stage, there is Mamie Gummer, eldest daughter of the Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep.—
Lynne Agress,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bright-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright-line. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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