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
In 1987, eight years before Rowland’s Nobel, countries around the world agreed to form the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, a self-explanatory international treaty that ends the use of the chemicals that eat ozone.
—
Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025
Also in the mix is CarMax, which will serve as the title sponsor of the self-explanatory NBA on Prime Pregame, while Wayfair will provide the matching bookend at the end of the night with its NBA Nightcap deal.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025
Also in the mix is CarMax, which will serve as the title sponsor of the self-explanatory NBA on Prime Pregame, while Wayfair will provide the matching bookend at the end of the night with its NBA Nightcap deal.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-explanatory
Adjective
-
After Son left in the summer to join MLS side Los Angeles FC, there was no obvious alternative apart from Guglielmo Vicario.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
If the main subject isn’t obvious across most frames, the video often won’t show up in search.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The frontier is instead ideological, about interrogating how to reconcile a complex world into something comprehensible when doing the opposite seems easier.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
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All of it’s fake, from an ever-growing branch of accounts that use the same verbiage and link to barely comprehensible mock news stories.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Richardson admitted frustration is understandable.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The potential for a mixup is understandable given that Niemann is the author of Raising Goats Naturally and the host of the podcast For the Love of Goats.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The shift away from historically high-paying, white-collar jobs is already evident in the choices Gen Z is making.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
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That should be evident for the next six weeks around the Charlotte Sports Complex, as pitchers and catchers — many of whom have already been there working out — formally report Wednesday and take the field for the first official session Thursday morning.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Police vans behind a temporary metal fence secured the road to the athletes’ village, but the protesters veered away, continuing their apparent route toward the Santagiulia venue.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Guthrie siblings post back-to-back videos addressed to captors The urgency to find Guthrie was apparent in an emotional plea posted in two videos released one day apart.—
Sarah Lapidus,
AZCentral.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For areas south and east of the city, a change to plain rain is anticipated before clearing later in the night.—
Matthew Villafane,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Once the burners are completely cool, use a cloth dampened with plain water to wipe off the spill.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The math was straightforward; get rid of Perardi, pay off the debt.—
Matthew Bremner,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
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If so, keep it straightforward with east-facing for sunrise and west-facing for sunsets.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Feltner’s routine was pretty simple.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Crime 101 takes the same view of quid pro quo as the most basic form of American commerce and makes simple but brutal points about value and self-worth, where your car, its year, make and model, matters more than your resumé.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-explanatory. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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