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
Still, even when the benefits are self-explanatory, cutting ties is easier said than done, as shown by this statistic.
—
Jenna Ryu, SELF, 9 Feb. 2026
Light switches, which have been self-explanatory since the dawn of electric lighting, apparently now come as an unlabeled multibutton panel that literally required a tutorial session from a technician.
—Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
The product is fairly self-explanatory and easy to navigate.
—Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Train Your Team is self-explanatory, since human error is a major vulnerability, as seen in the First American Financial Corp Data Leak and others.
—Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Jenna Ryu, SELF, 9 Feb. 2026
Light switches, which have been self-explanatory since the dawn of electric lighting, apparently now come as an unlabeled multibutton panel that literally required a tutorial session from a technician.
—Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
The product is fairly self-explanatory and easy to navigate.
—Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Train Your Team is self-explanatory, since human error is a major vulnerability, as seen in the First American Financial Corp Data Leak and others.
—Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-explanatory
Adjective
-
Add to the Compost Pile Sending banana peels to the compost bin is the easiest—and perhaps most obvious—way to use them.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Targets at safety It’s become obvious that this year’s safety draft class has the chance to produce a good amount of quality starters.—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Davis is wry and quietly defiant of stereotype, her Elaine’s composure hard-won and her sacrifice of certain kinds of sympathy fully comprehensible.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Just as astronomers assign visible colors to otherwise invisible wavelengths to make images comprehensible, sonification gives numerical data distinct sonic qualities.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Her reasoning is frustrating, but understandable — her husband (Yao), now a vampire, is taunting her outside, and Remmick has threatened to kill her daughter back in town.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
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The decision will be understandable.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The talent is evident from the jump, but Sarkisian spoke about more than sprinter’s speed and making contested catches when he was asked about Coleman.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
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The influence of the titan of modern design, Le Corbusier, is evident in Niemeyer’s Palácio da Alvorada, for example, which was the official presidential residence; in the Congresso Nacional; and in the Catedral Metropolitana de Brasília, the site of presidential inaugurations.—
Sophia La Banca,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And yet what’s readily apparent is that this weird, fragile, insular family is genuinely keen on folding Tommy into their lives.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Officers then began taking apart the tank, which was not factory standard, and discovered the woman lying in a puddle of gasoline, appearing disoriented and suffering from apparent chemical burns to her legs and feet; she was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation, treated and quickly released.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Sacred Sites in Uluru Rising 348 meters above the Northern Australian desert plain, Uluru is a massive sandstone monolith—the largest in the world—formed around 550 million years old.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
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The beauty of this top is it can be worn buttoned up and tucked into jeans for a more tailored look, but it can also be worn loose over a plain tank for a model-off-duty finish.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The most straightforward solution to the current crisis is for Congress to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).—
Jackson Shedelbower,
Oc Register,
11 Mar. 2026
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As models walk their final runways and editors catch evening flights out of Paris Fashion Week, this week’s standout beauty looks appear almost deceptively straightforward.—
Arden Fanning Andrews,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Engineers have developed a simple strategy to help robots remain stable while repairing satellites in orbit by using a second robotic arm to counterbalance movements.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
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Don’t be afraid to suggest budget caps for group plans, because everyone relaxes when guidelines are simple and visible.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-explanatory. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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