as in obvious
easy to understand without explanation
a self-explanatory phrase The chapter titles of the book are self-explanatory.
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Recent Examples of self-explanatory
Fine, well, what about the self-explanatory More Money Than Sense by Lord Kitchener?
—
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The photograph—one of a series of some 52 large and 101 smaller stereo views Gardner made around the fort—appears as a seemingly self-explanatory illustration in books about the Indian Wars.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
The last two are is pretty self-explanatory, but the gripper is a little more interesting.
—New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2025
Some of these are self-explanatory.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The photograph—one of a series of some 52 large and 101 smaller stereo views Gardner made around the fort—appears as a seemingly self-explanatory illustration in books about the Indian Wars.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
The last two are is pretty self-explanatory, but the gripper is a little more interesting.
—New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2025
Some of these are self-explanatory.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-explanatory
Adjective
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The triggers for a crash likewise do not generally follow any obvious logic.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
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Roem and other critics of data center growth see a few obvious goals in Virginia if Spanberger wins — though the would-be governor has not climbed on board with all of them.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The idea is to make worker feedback less intimidating for companies by turning it into easily comprehensible data and action items.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Aug. 2025
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In the lab, Goldie’s thoughts circled and surrounded the minutiae of analysis and computation, sorted microscopic comparisons, developed overviews that laid out sequences and processes logically and accurately in theories not otherwise comprehensible.—
Annie Proulx,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Such resignation is both understandable and impermissible.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
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For all that understandable positivity, right-back has become a barometer for Liverpool’s unsettled start to the season.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Hackman was not only a collector but an artist himself, and his approach to collecting mirrors the care, aesthetic sensibility, and discipline evident in his own artistic practice.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Set the Tone at the Front Door The sense of escape is even evident at the front of the house, where a rose plant climbs across the archway and herbs are planted along the gravel driveway.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Washington — New air traffic control audio captures pilots in an apparent struggle to regain control of a private business jet as the plane plunged into woods near Lansing, Michigan on Thursday, killing all three on board.—
Pete Muntean,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
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A lot has happened to the Jeep since American soldiers planted a flag on Iwo Jima, but after 80 years, the family resemblance of today’s Jeep Wrangler to the original is still readily apparent, though contemporary models are thoroughly modern cars.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There is no straightforward answer.—
Michelle Maves,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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But viewers looking for a straightforward thriller chronicling the international incident will not find it here.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Caving—which is the more extreme cousin to spelunking—is physically and mentally challenging but also adrenaline fueled and just plain fun, too.—
Heide Brandes,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
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And those, including a defense of quarterback Beau Pribula, were plain and worthy on Tuesday in the wake of MU’s first loss of the season last Saturday against Alabama.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Monochromatic Raven loves to stick to a simple, serene palette by combining a variety of white tulips with different bloom times.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Oct. 2025
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This Madewell version channels that effortless, neutral polish Kitts described—simple, structured, and endlessly versatile.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-explanatory. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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