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
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.
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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
Because there are no bright-line rules for arguing fair use, Anthropic would need to present a strong case for its situation — likely involving the development of AI and the need for innovation.
—Tatjana Paterno, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Because some amount of discretion is needed in adjudicating these disputes, the absence of bright-line rules is a positive development.
—Robert Litan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2016
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
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
Because there are no bright-line rules for arguing fair use, Anthropic would need to present a strong case for its situation — likely involving the development of AI and the need for innovation.
—Tatjana Paterno, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Because some amount of discretion is needed in adjudicating these disputes, the absence of bright-line rules is a positive development.
—Robert Litan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2016
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bright-line
Adjective
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Making obvious your goal of understanding is a powerful way of creating goodwill.Kurt Gray, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
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To be sure, there are obvious benefits to Israel in the first phase of the agreement.The Editors, National Review, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For lovers of this unmistakable design, here’s an ode to the Tank.Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 8 Jan. 2025
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The unmistakable smell of cigar smoke hung in the air.Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The incongruity of profit maximization was brought to public attention in the UK recently, as the scale of river pollution from water utility companies becomes ever more apparent.Aissa Dearing, JSTOR Daily, 9 Jan. 2025
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Other leaders were similarly circumspect about Trump’s apparent threat to invade a fellow member of NATO.Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The sky was clear Saturday when the Rams went through drills in preparation for their NFC wild-card game against the Minnesota Vikings.Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
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Major roads were mostly clear across the South, but few ventured out early Saturday.CBS News, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Collaboration, teamwork and a willingness to seek out the right technologies and efficiencies are essential and can be straightforward.David Joosten, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
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Cortland sawing off his own arm and serving it to his tyrannical father — that’s pretty straightforward.Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Very bold colors—a long, bright orange hallway—and wacky costumes like Harvey’s floral suits, to give the film a strident, distinct look and feel.Erik Kain, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
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The movements Obama and Trump inspired were quite distinct.Ron Elving, NPR, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The sense of brotherhood was evident, but the contention between your younger self and Gary Barlow is clear from the offset.Olivia-Anne Cleary, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025
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Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik comes from the Shanahan coaching tree, and that is evident in his scheme.Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Congress last year passed the law being challenged with broad bipartisan support and President Joe Biden signed it into law.Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025
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Health equity requires a broader approach — one that recognizes and acts on the importance of real life variables like access to nutritious food, stable housing, and transportation.Ann Marie P. Mauro, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bright-line
Cite this Entry
“Bright-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright-line. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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