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
Examples 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
The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear-cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency.
—
Alanna Durkin Richer, arkansasonline.com, 26 Nov. 2024
But behind the scenes, the U.S. government’s support for the protesters was less clear-cut.
—Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Nov. 2024
One area that’s more clear-cut is the right to wear T-shirts or badges expressing political views in the classroom.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
But like many environmental issues in Arizona, this one isn't clear-cut.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clear-cut 
Alanna Durkin Richer, arkansasonline.com, 26 Nov. 2024
But behind the scenes, the U.S. government’s support for the protesters was less clear-cut.
—Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Nov. 2024
One area that’s more clear-cut is the right to wear T-shirts or badges expressing political views in the classroom.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
But like many environmental issues in Arizona, this one isn't clear-cut.
—Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clear-cut
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clear-cut
Adjective
-
For Trump, the next steps should be obvious: Avoid bloodshed.Lissa Weinmann, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2025
-
In a series of experiments, my colleagues and I found that people frequently took bad advice, even when the flaws in the advice were glaringly obvious.Dr. Sunita Sah, TIME, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Demi Moore’s explicit new film The Substance restored her excitement in acting after almost walking away Technically, Moore won the Robert Altman Award at the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards as a member of the ensemble of Margin Call, but this is her first individual win.Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 6 Jan. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Yale University has no explicit policy on AI and college essays, but the admissions office devoted an entire podcast to the subject.Brad Tuttle, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Witkoff was with Trump during the apparent second assassination attempt on his life, telling NBC that Secret Service agents dived on Trump and got him off his Florida golf course in under 20 seconds.Sara Dorn, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
-
Behind the scenes, fans speculated about an apparent rift between Lively and Baldoni, who avoided one another other during press junkets and appeared separately on red carpets.Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Switch to a reference frame whose origin is in a superposition, though, and the massive object can end up in a definite location.Anil Ananthaswamy, WIRED, 29 Dec. 2024
-
The performances against Bournemouth and Wolves weren’t as good as the defeat against Tottenham and the victory in the Manchester derby, but there are definite signs of what Ruben Amorim wants to do on and off the ball.Ahmed Walid, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
For royal fans, one unmistakable sign that the festive season is approaching is when Kate Middleton and Prince William send out their traditional Christmas cards.Katharina Fuchs, Glamour, 19 Dec. 2024
-
With her signature white bob and questioning eyes, Mellen was unmistakable with her crisp minimalist style and quick pace.Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Jerry said nothing definitive about his head coach returning, but this potential extension of the relationship will come down to the specifics.Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Jan. 2025
-
Sources indicate that there have been no substantive discussions about a contract extension for McCarthy in Dallas, and the Cowboys have yet to make a definitive statement about their plans for next season.Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Advocates have questioned how the regional hub strategy would respond to immigration arrests across the state and have not received a clear answer from state leaders, said Yazdan-Panah of Immigrant Defense Advocates.Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024
-
Tailor the message to what matters to them, showing clear value beyond IT.Ashar Samdani, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Depending on the specific proposals the Trump administration manages to enact, the Fed could hold off on any additional cuts until March or even later.Cora Lewis, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2024
-
While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 22 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near clear-cut
Cite this Entry
“Clear-cut.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clear-cut. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share