no brainer
Decision requiring nothing
A no brainer is a decision or choice that requires little or no thought because the answer is obvious.
The term suggests that even someone without much mental effort could see the right course of action.
Accepting the job offer was a no brainer—the salary was double what I was making.
It's most often used when one option is so clearly superior that deliberation seems pointless.
Forceful basket from above
- foregone conclusionResult assumed beforehand
- no contestUneven match or plea
- shoo-inInevitable victor
- lockMechanism requiring a key
cinch · surefire · guaranteed · certain · undeniable · unquestionable · clear-cut · open-and-shut
Requiring minimal effort
- simpleFree of complexity
- straightforwardClear and uncomplicated
- painlessCausing no discomfort
- uncomplicatedEasy to understand
smooth · a breeze · no sweat · piece of cake · child's play · no trouble · manageable · undemanding
Easily perceived, unmistakable
- apparentClearly seen or understood
- evidentClearly perceived or understood
- manifestClearly apparent or displayed
- clearWithout obstruction or fog
plain · transparent · self-explanatory · axiomatic · patent · unmistakable · blatant · glaring
Instinctive sense about something
- intuitionInstinctive immediate understanding
- instinctInnate behavioral tendency
- snap judgmentRapid evaluation without deliberation
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
impulse · knee-jerk · visceral · innate · natural · spontaneous · unthinking · unconscious
slam dunk
Forceful basket from above
- foregone conclusionResult assumed beforehand
- no contestUneven match or plea
- shoo-inInevitable victor
lock · cinch · surefire · guaranteed · certain · undeniable · unquestionable · clear-cut · open-and-shut · hands down
easy
Requiring minimal effort
- simpleFree of complexity
- straightforwardClear and uncomplicated
- painlessCausing no discomfort
uncomplicated · smooth · a breeze · no sweat · piece of cake · child's play · no trouble · manageable · undemanding · elementary
obvious
Easily perceived, unmistakable
- apparentClearly seen or understood
- evidentClearly perceived or understood
- manifestClearly apparent or displayed
clear · plain · transparent · self-explanatory · axiomatic · patent · unmistakable · blatant · glaring · conspicuous
gut feeling
Instinctive sense about something
- intuitionInstinctive immediate understanding
- instinctInnate behavioral tendency
- snap judgmentRapid evaluation without deliberation
reflex · impulse · knee-jerk · visceral · innate · natural · spontaneous · unthinking · unconscious · reactive
- decisionschoice, make a decision, choices, yes, no
- Obviousnessobviously, clearly, of course, duh, no duh
- pricingpricing, discount price, overpricing, discounts, overcharge
- expressions of simplicityeasy, simple, basic, plain, clear
no brainerdilemma
Forced choice between undesirables
tough call · conundrum · quandary · predicament · brain teaser
no brainermystery
Something unexplained or unknown
enigma · puzzle · riddle · imponderables · gray area
no brainertoss-up
Outcome with equal chances
coin flip · gamble · crapshoot · close call · judgment call
brain, brains, brainy, brainier, brainiest, brainless, brainpower, brainstorm, brainstorming