clear-cut

American  

[kleer-kuht, kleer-kuht] / ˈklɪərˈkʌt, ˈklɪərˌkʌt /

Also clear cut,

adjective

1. formed with or having clearly defined outlines.

   a face with clear-cut features.

   Synonyms:

   definite, positive, precise, crisp, chiseled

2. unambiguously clear; completely evident; definite.

   His sale of secrets was a clear-cut example of treachery.

3. of or relating to a section of forest where all trees have been cut down for harvesting.

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noun

1. a section of forest where all trees have been cut down for harvesting.

verb (used with object)

clear-cut, clear-cutting

1. to fell all the trees in (a section of forest) for harvesting.

clear-cut British  

adjective

1. definite; not vague

   a clear-cut proposal

2. clearly outlined

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verb

1. (tr) another term for clear-fell

Other Word Forms

• clear-cutness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of clear-cut

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clear-cut clear-cutting

So why are the results so clear-cut, and what are the financial and psychological factors at play?

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

The clear-cut way to get a raise is to land a new job.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

The US leader's influence could be less clear-cut this time around, however.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

The case for many other listed space companies isn’t as clear-cut.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

Crafting took skill and creativity, and came with a clear-cut set of directions.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

California, biomass energy advocates say, has struggled to get past its distrust of the technology, given traditional biomass’ checkered past of clear-cutting forests and polluting poorer communities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2025

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

“Trees and new housing can coexist, but this should not be accomplished by clear-cutting our urban forest,” she wrote.

From Seattle Times ● May 24, 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

The very terror of this clear-cutting sword-sweep, dividing us, bone from bone, may, nay! probably will, send us back to our gentle "lovers of humanity" who, "knowing everything pardon everything."

From Visions and Revisions A Book of Literary Devotions by Powys, John Cowper

Related Words

• categorical
• definitive
• explicit
• obvious
• precise
• pronounced
• specific
• straightforward
• unambiguous
• unequivocal
• well-defined