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
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
The name in itself is fairly self-explanatory — huggies are small hoop earrings that wrap snugly around the earlobe.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
The name in itself is fairly self-explanatory — huggies are small hoop earrings that wrap snugly around the earlobe.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-explanatory
Adjective
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The hoarding expert suggested that people may not be checking the most obvious spots in their homes for hidden fortunes.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
21 Feb. 2026
-
As a performance artist and musician, Ono has always tried to expose the depth contained within the apparently obvious.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Something essential was happening in the hard work of trying to make your thoughts comprehensible to another human being (even if that human being was just your teacher).—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Not to judge, but to make things comprehensible.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Such meekness is understandable from him.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Its California School Dashboard Guide provides understandable explanations of the dashboard’s ratings, both overall for the state’s 30 largest school districts and in detail for three districts.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That love was evident in abundance following the online racial abuse directed at Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho following the Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy.—
Aleks Klosok,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
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And nowhere is that je ne sais quoi more evident than in their shoes.—
Shelby Comroe,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Two people were killed and seven others were hurt in a shooting during an apparent fight on a street in an entertainment district, the police chief in Richmond, Virginia, said Saturday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
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There was an apparent surge in Putin’s approval rating after the use of military force against Ukraine in 2014 and 2022.—
Elizaveta Gaufman,
The Conversation,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The chairs were plain and cane-bottomed.—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
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Opponents of Village Farms worry about building so many homes on a flood plain, especially one so close to an unlined landfill that could be leaking toxic chemicals.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
If the answer isn’t clear and straightforward, keep looking.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The service here is friendly, helpful, straightforward, and accommodating.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Olive oil is also used to dress simple salads, roasted vegetables, and a host of other dishes.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
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Others have argued that the game represents a simple life that is becoming harder to obtain.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-explanatory. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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