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
-
With such a depleted draft stash, the Bucks don't have any obvious levers to pull to help bolster their supporting cast alongside Antetokounmpo and Lillard.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Still, Strider was frustrated for obvious reasons and searching for answers.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Immediate Action Required: The urgency is unmistakable.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
His speech contained an unmistakable warning for Bolsonaro.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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To a casual observer, the difference between o1 and o1-pro might not be immediately apparent, yet the performance gap in business tasks can be substantial.—
Andrew Filev,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
This is most apparent in the different choices of former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Netanyahu’s office made clear in its Thursday statements that its position has not budged.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Then clear larger leaves and debris with a rake and push broom.—
Kara McGinley,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Her journey so far on Season 27 of the series has not been straightforward.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Opening a Swiss bank account is fairly straightforward but has to comply with strict U.S. disclosure laws.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Leaders must align their efforts but never relinquish their distinct accountabilities.—
Shivali Kukreja,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Epic Universe, the $7 billion attraction from Comcast Corp.’s Universal Destinations & Experiences division, offers five distinct lands and opens to the public on May 22.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Clark's influence on the popularity of women's basketball over the last year has been evident in various statistics.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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The fact that Affleck and Lopez have been committed to staying close with each other’s kids has been evident since the early days of the divorce rumors.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Piano Slam combines classical and contemporary elements in a way that aligns with Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion’s broader mission to bring together different cultural expressions through the arts, according to Cardenas.—
Jonel Juste,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
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Strait displayed a broad smile while DQ employee Becky Gonzalez snapped a photo of him through the window.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bright-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright-line. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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