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
-
Feel free to cut off really obvious dead portions, then wait a month or two and look for possibly more decline.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Some people would argue that the basic apparatus of cinema — a camera that then flattens images into two dimensions to be projected on a screen — hasn’t changed much since the Lumière brothers, despite obvious technological advancements.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some of the original choices had rules too culturally specific to be immediately comprehensible to viewers outside Korea.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
That anxiety is understandable.—
Edward Timmons,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The public at large bought into those efforts with little skepticism in the understandable desire to have Latinos star in the American story.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Nowhere is this more evident than in Florida, where there are 281 local and state agencies with over 300 agreements, according to a Miami Herald analysis of ICE data.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
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This shift is particularly evident in the popularity of T-Shirt Bras, which are designed to vanish under clothing while providing a smooth, rounded shape.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Three weeks into the conflict, the toll is becoming apparent.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
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The result is effortlessly chic, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Lobby Bar—an understated name for such a striking space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Words are better at suggesting ambiguity than plain numbers or emojis.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Experts break down the good, the concerning, and just plain confusing aspects of these controversial recommendations with athletes in mind.—
Outside,
Outside,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
On his first solo release in eight years, 100 gecs’ mutant-pop prankster turns his attention to relatively straightforward big-tent EDM—but not without a little noise-scene provocation.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
25 Mar. 2026
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Bottom line Gold bullion coins are one of the more straightforward ways to add physical gold to a portfolio, but the details matter.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In Catanzaro Lido, a beach town along the Ionian coast, meals tend to be simple and communal.—
Jenna Curcio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In her first interview since becoming head of content at Disney+ EMEA, Angela Jain has said the message to writers and producers is simple, the streamer is going to greenlight more originals from the region and will be backing that effort with extra funds for local fare.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-explanatory. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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