1
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation
a clear-cut case of plagiarism that resulted in her immediate dismissal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explicit
so clearly expressed as to leave no doubt about the meaning
clear-cut instructions that even an idiot should be able to follow
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 clear-cut
In storytelling, the roads to pure evil or to victimhood are frequently clear-cut, but the journey of a person who is slowly recruited into complicity is a subtler thing.
—
The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
The debate over exterior lighting is not clear-cut; factors such as energy use, security concerns, placement, and even local wildlife come into play.
—Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2025
While there's no clear-cut No. 1 pick in the draft like Bueckers last season, there's a host of draft-eligible players in college, including UCLA's Lauren Betts, UConn's Azzi Fudd, LSU's Flau'jae Johnson and TCU's Olivia Miles.
—CBS News, 24 Nov. 2025
The thousand-year-old, two-hundred-foot Douglas Fir stands in the midst of a vast clear-cut on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, a towering beanstalk surrounded by acres of cornfield stubble.
—Brad Badelt, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clear-cut
The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
The debate over exterior lighting is not clear-cut; factors such as energy use, security concerns, placement, and even local wildlife come into play.
—Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2025
While there's no clear-cut No. 1 pick in the draft like Bueckers last season, there's a host of draft-eligible players in college, including UCLA's Lauren Betts, UConn's Azzi Fudd, LSU's Flau'jae Johnson and TCU's Olivia Miles.
—CBS News, 24 Nov. 2025
The thousand-year-old, two-hundred-foot Douglas Fir stands in the midst of a vast clear-cut on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, a towering beanstalk surrounded by acres of cornfield stubble.
—Brad Badelt, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clear-cut
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clear-cut
Adjective
-
The proximity to Lincoln Center was an obvious draw for musicians, and renters included an avant-garde composer on the sixth floor, a bassist on the fourth, and an opera teacher on the ground level.—
Will Ellis,
Curbed,
6 Jan. 2026
-
After successfully training rookie Jackson West, Angela sets her sights on becoming a detective while trying to ignore her obvious chemistry with defense attorney Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore).—
Tanya Melendez,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Without explicit training, civil servants risk assuming that a system that writes like an expert also counts like one.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In addition, explicit prohibitions on shooting at vehicles are largely absent from the law, which means that officers responsible for fatal shootings of drivers that appear to violate departmental policies still often escape criminal penalties.—
Ben Jones,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Two people suffered life-threatening injuries and a suspect has been arrested in connection with an apparent stabbing in San Francisco on Saturday evening, police said.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
For many of the previous 120 days, Tara tells Thomas what is happening to her, and convinces him of her situation through her apparent clairvoyance.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The newest, pinkest addition to Orlando Auto Museum was a definite fixer-upper.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The designer anticipates a definite shift from floral to geometric motifs, with bold color-blocking techniques that will set the tone in a room.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The power dynamics were unmistakable.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Tuscany Tuscany, with its historic estates and that unmistakable golden light, remains one of Italy’s most beloved honeymoon regions.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The testing process is built for speed and discretion, delivering a definitive answer in approximately two minutes.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Without any definitive answers just yet, there's been lots of speculation in the local press, including questions about whether the couple were murdered or died by suicide.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Things became clearer on December 28, when Dreame released teaser images and confirmed that its first car would debut at CES 2026.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Iwobi’s movement drags Ladislav Krejci wider, increasing the space between the lines and creating a clear passing angle for Calvin Bassey.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But more than specific features and fixtures, the idea of wellness is becoming a big bathroom selling point.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The final part of the dormancy evolution puzzle is what ecologists refer to as the ecological niche a species occupies — the specific set of conditions that species evolved to exploit or the conditions under which that species is likely to be more successful when compared to other species.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clear-cut.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clear-cut. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share