# If you'd like to omit non-matching lines from the result; add ';d' to the end of the expression.
sed -E 's/(?:(?<!-)--->>>|<<<---(?!-))(*SKIP)(*FAIL)|--.*//gm;t' <<< "-- test
# should be \"\"
--->>> test
# should be \"--->>> test\"
<<<--- test
# should be \"<<<--- test\"
--->>>->>> test
# should be --->>>->>> test
---->>> test
# should be \"\"
test --->>> test
# should be \"test --->>> test\"
test --->>> test <<<---
# should be \"test --->>> test <<<---\"
"
Please keep in mind that these code samples are automatically generated and are not guaranteed to work. If you find any syntax errors, feel free to submit a bug report. For a full regex reference for SED, please visit: https://www.gnu.org/software/sed/manual/html_node/The-_0022s_0022-Command.html