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 rather self-explanatory: in 1916, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company sent Paul W. Litchfield to Arizona from Ohio to purchase land for cotton.
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Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2024
The term, coined by stylist Allison Bornstein, is used to describe the self-explanatory incongruous styling hack employed by the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Ashley Olsen, and Katie Holmes.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2024
Maybe self-explanatory but if the fish are dead, don't get wet.
—Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024
Most of the controls are self-explanatory, but the Defocus and Showcase buttons require a little explanation.
—PCMAG, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for self-explanatory 
Alexandra Hardle, The Arizona Republic, 14 Sep. 2024
The term, coined by stylist Allison Bornstein, is used to describe the self-explanatory incongruous styling hack employed by the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Ashley Olsen, and Katie Holmes.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2024
Maybe self-explanatory but if the fish are dead, don't get wet.
—Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024
Most of the controls are self-explanatory, but the Defocus and Showcase buttons require a little explanation.
—PCMAG, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for self-explanatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-explanatory
Adjective
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Here’s How to Shop for the Right Strap-On By Malia Griggs Of these triggers, the most obvious is probably lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products that doesn’t sit well with certain people, like those who are lactose-intolerant.Caroline Tien, SELF, 22 Nov. 2024
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That's a substantial change that may not be immediately obvious.Matthew Self, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Which is to say, whatever regulators come up with must be immediately comprehensible for the average shopper.Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
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This eye can inform business decisions through complex, real-world data that used to be comprehensible only to humans.Richard Meng, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.Trefis Team, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
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Its sway became evident recently when a cut in tax rebates for exporters roiled aluminum prices.Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Asia, 29 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Down the stretch against Portland, in a loss, this became glaringly apparent as the Rockets could not buy a basket but did not have anyone reliable to initiate offense from the perimeter with Green on the bench (after massively struggling) and point guard Fred VanVleet himself struggling.Rahat Huq, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
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Tripp was pronounced dead at the scene with an apparent gunshot wound.Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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While the application is pretty straightforward, sorting out some of the circumstances—this is a facts and circumstances-heavy analysis—may be more complicated.Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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The rationale for doing so is pretty straightforward.Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In many places in Texas, plain tap water is delicious, whether derived from surface, underground or cistern sources.Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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Stepping through the plain wooden door, visitors see far more than just an old house.Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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If peace has always been but a simple voluntary choice, the price of human imperfection has been paid in the coin of perpetual war.Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
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Or that a different definition will make a theory simpler.Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 18 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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So scoring 36 straight points on the Commodores, turning in another dominant defensive performance, getting another clear step forward from redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, and winning 36-23 to unofficially clinch a Playoff spot was even better than all that sounds.Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 1 Dec. 2024
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Decorate with Ornaments Christopher Grubb, president of Arch-Interiors Design Group in Beverly Hills, recommends putting ornaments in clear cylindrical vases.Terri Williams, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near self-explanatory
Cite this Entry
“Self-explanatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-explanatory. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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