as in selected
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking
surgery is usually not considered a first-line treatment for this type of cancer
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Recent Examples of first-line
Also freshly day-to-day for Pittsburgh are first-line winger Bryan Rust, rookie Ben Kindel and first-pair defenseman Parker Wotherspoon.
—
Sean Gentille, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
The American Heart Association considers regular exercise, among other lifestyle tweaks, to be a first-line therapy for people with elevated blood pressure.
—Jenessa Connor, Health, 2 Apr. 2026
Amato emphasizes that such treatments are not first-line solutions but are considered within broader, individualized care plans.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
According to Laye, applying an anti-chafe gel to problem spots—between your toes, along the sides of your feet, and on your heels—prior to racing is good first-line prevention.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for first-line
Sean Gentille, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2026
The American Heart Association considers regular exercise, among other lifestyle tweaks, to be a first-line therapy for people with elevated blood pressure.
—Jenessa Connor, Health, 2 Apr. 2026
Amato emphasizes that such treatments are not first-line solutions but are considered within broader, individualized care plans.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
According to Laye, applying an anti-chafe gel to problem spots—between your toes, along the sides of your feet, and on your heels—prior to racing is good first-line prevention.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for first-line
Recent Examples of Synonyms for first-line
Adjective
-
The selected artist will be notified by early October.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The gist, however, seems to be that extra-terrestrials make contact with a selected few, before promising to go public to the entire world — good luck dealing with the ramifications of that one, human race!—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
In the event of flood threats, cities in South Florida may allow residents to park for free in select public garages, although proof of residency is frequently required.—
Jennifer Sangalang,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
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Anthropic is also testing its latest Mythos model with a select group of companies; the Claude developer claims these restrictions are necessary to ensure the model can’t be misused upon a more public release.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Another of White’s signature touches is his habit of repeatedly working with favorite actors.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Host a dinner, invite your favorite people over, and let your space become the destination.—
Steph Koyfman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Additionally, consumer awareness of microplastic pollution is higher than brands realize, raising the stakes for fiber content disclosure, preferred fiber programs, and claims substantiation across the supply chain.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Nonopioid therapies are preferred and often as effective as opioids for chronic pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control’s opioid prescribing guidelines.—
Amber Gaudet,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Periods of technological transformation often coincide with capital over-concentration, valuation compression outside the favored theme, and eventual normalization.—
Matt Witheiler,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The Washington Consensus was traditionally wary of developing countries picking winners and losers, erecting trade barriers and subsidizing favored industries.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“First-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first-line. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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