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
This one is pretty self-explanatory.
—
Katie Grant, Parents, 4 Mar. 2026
Some of them, like the washtub, are fairly self-explanatory.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
The word bombogenesis is a combination of cyclogenesis, which describes the formation of a cyclone or storm, and bomb, which is pretty self-explanatory.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Katie Grant, Parents, 4 Mar. 2026
Some of them, like the washtub, are fairly self-explanatory.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
The word bombogenesis is a combination of cyclogenesis, which describes the formation of a cyclone or storm, and bomb, which is pretty self-explanatory.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-explanatory
Adjective
-
Case for buying Unlike with many bad teams, which tend to perform poorly all over the field, this Red Sox team has mostly been kneecapped by one obvious, overwhelming flaw.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
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The key to going the extra mile here is to install your curtains a bit higher above the windows than may be obvious.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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But Turner will be remembered mostly for the creation and development of the Cable News Network – CNN – which launched in 1980 and made our knowledge of distant events instantaneous and our world more comprehensible.—
Michael J. Socolow,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
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The San Francisco Chronicle received the award for explanatory reporting, which means work that makes a complex topic comprehensible to everyday readers and viewers.—
Jennifer Peltz,
Twin Cities,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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That uncertainty is understandable, given how much is at stake when your debt problems start to overlap with your job.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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Growth is one of the biggest sore subjects in Mansfield, for understandable reasons.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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The divide is particularly evident in apparel.—
Juveria Tabassum,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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This phenomenon was particularly evident last primary, when Bass initially trailed developer Rick Caruso in the mayoral race, but as more ballots came in, Bass continued to gain a lead.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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His death was the first apparent suicide in a San Diego County jail since 2023.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
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This news signals another apparent blow to any hopes Pitt, 62, has of reconnecting with any, or most, of his children.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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In today’s fascination with affordable, tiny houses, the legacy of traditional American architecture is in plain sight.—
Time,
Time,
2 June 2026
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This one, though, is as plain as the sunshine on a warm Texas day.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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In the video, Allie dramatically acted out both sides of the conversation, capturing the feeling of trying to extract a straightforward answer from her mom.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
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Not Suitable for Work, by contrast, stretches for both satire and straightforward cuddliness.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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The actor, 39, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of simple battery in a Louisiana criminal court Wednesday, June 3, according to records obtained by USA TODAY.—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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At the time, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed its officers charged LaBeouf with two counts of simple battery for allegedly assaulting two men near a bar in the French Quarter.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-explanatory. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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