clear-cut
Americanadjective
-
formed with or having clearly defined outlines.
a face with clear-cut features.
-
unambiguously clear; completely evident; definite.
His sale of secrets was a clear-cut example of treachery.
-
of or relating to a section of forest where all trees have been cut down for harvesting.
noun
verb (used with object)
adjective
-
definite; not vague
a clear-cut proposal
-
clearly outlined
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of clear-cut
First recorded in 1850–55
Vocabulary lists containing clear-cut
Obvious
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Obvious
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Carl Tannenbaum, chief economist at Northern Trust, said the argument for raising rates isn’t as clear-cut as the markets and many commentators believe, adding that the central bank has no easy options.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
When it comes to the research Anthropic detected and blocked that was related to biological weapons, the intent of the actors was less clear-cut and the AI lab did not identify them.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
Odegaard succeeded where other team-mates failed, Arsenal missing several clear-cut opportunities before he struck.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Even in concert cancellation situations that seem clear-cut to outsiders, insurance payouts aren’t guaranteed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
The contrast of this laughing, luxuriant beauty with the clear-cut, austere grandeur all around arrests the attention sharply.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
“All across California cities are getting push back from concerned citizens who refuse to accept clear-cutting their urban forest,” Hall said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2024
Bottom trawling is a fishing method that’s extremely destructive to sensitive habitat types; it’s been compared to clear-cutting forests to catch rabbits.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2024
And most ecologists regard degradation as the consequence of the type of large scale clear-cutting that is nearly the universal method of logging in Canada.
From New York Times ● Jan. 4, 2024
"Unleashing forest companies to build hundreds of kilometers more road to do more clear-cutting results in a worse situation, not a better one," Foy said.
From Reuters ● Jun. 12, 2023
Horace Walpole spoke in his usual clear-cutting style of Mr Charles Pylades and Mr John Orestes.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 58, No. 359, September 1845 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
