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.
—
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
-
Doohan faces Colapinto questions There were two obvious topics facing Alpine drivers Jack Doohan and Pierre Gasly.—
Luke Smith,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
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Trent Frederic is going to be a very popular guy if the Bruins decide to sell, but old friend Nico Sturm would be an obvious target if the answer above is yes. 23.—
Corey Masisak,
The Denver Post,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The entire capsule collection features quirky touches evocative of Johnson’s idiosyncratic and unmistakable approach to fashion.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
24 Feb. 2025
-
And so the passion that the Japanese fans have for the game of baseball (was unmistakable).—
Jayson Stark,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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That danger was apparent when formaldehyde in plywood used to build temporary trailer homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina sickened dozens of people.—
Hiroko Tabuchi,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
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It’s been apparent in the last several years that the number of corporate CMOs is going down.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The clear back lets the iPad's design come through, and while the display cover can fold into the same two viewing angles, covering the screen actually puts it to sleep here.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
28 Feb. 2025
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However, there was no clear indication whether the list was related to Epstein's case, Maxwell's case, or another investigation.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Yes, the story is straightforward, but the answers are not.—
David John Chávez,
The Mercury News,
19 Feb. 2025
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The rationale is straightforward: since the administration has eliminated the CEQ regulations, and agency regulations were based on them, agencies should now align their procedures with the new CEQ framework.—
James Broughel,
Forbes,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Resisting the label of fusion, Twitty describes the dish as an homage to flavors that highlights the intersections between distinct culinary traditions.—
Danielle Dorsey,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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This is classic mosaic evolution, where different parts of the anatomy evolve at distinct rates.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In fact, sensuality is its muse, which is evident in the aphrodisiac-esque notes.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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The foreign policy shift was evident, as European leaders visited Trump this week at the White House to talk about reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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OpenAI said the new model features a broader knowledge base, better emotional intelligence and improved contextual understanding, and supposedly has fewer hallucinations— referring to when AI models produce inaccurate or misleading results.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Washington state employees could soon face monthly furloughs as part of a broader effort to address the state's growing budget deficit.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bright-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bright-line. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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