How to Use self-explanatory in a Sentence

self-explanatory

adjective
  • Maybe self-explanatory but if the fish are dead, don't get wet.
    — Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024
  • Many art sets are freeform, while others are self-explanatory.
    — Tanya Edwards, Parents, 13 June 2024
  • Some of these are self-explanatory.
    — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
  • On one hand, the term is pretty self-explanatory.
    — Caroline Tien, SELF, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The purpose of the site is self-explanatory, hence the lack of an image for this one.
    — Emily Dreibelbis, PCMAG, 24 Feb. 2023
  • The runes thing is self-explanatory, as runs will now be more rewarding.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Some of them, like the washtub, are fairly self-explanatory.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
  • While the name seems self-explanatory, there's more than meets the eye to this bedding essential.
    — Kate McGregor, House Beautiful, 13 Aug. 2023
  • Salt, self-explanatory; fat, for flavor; acid, to brighten a dish; and heat, from spices and the fire on which food is cooked.
    — Katie Rife, EW.com, 11 May 2025
  • That's self-explanatory, but how is this year different?
    — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2025
  • This one is pretty self-explanatory.
    — Katie Grant, Parents, 4 Mar. 2026
  • This one sounds self-explanatory but can easily be overlooked.
    — Max Inchausti, Field & Stream, 8 June 2023
  • The wines themselves are quite approachable, although the list is sometimes less than self-explanatory.
    — Pete Wells, New York Times, 19 Sep. 2023
  • 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
  • The product is fairly self-explanatory and easy to navigate.
    — Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The last two are is pretty self-explanatory, but the gripper is a little more interesting.
    — New Atlas, 11 Sep. 2025
  • 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
  • That Meta would be trying to restrain an EU out to harm its business is self-explanatory.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Most of the chicken dinner ingredients are self-explanatory, but here are a few notes to guide your shopping and cooking.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2024
  • This coffee maker was very self-explanatory after reading the directions one time through.
    — Rennie Dyball, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2022
  • Pass interference – a foul that has derailed many great passing plays – is at the most basic level self-explanatory.
    — Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Hair loss is self-explanatory and dryness is caused by damage to the outer layer of the cuticle and results in moisture loss and coarse, dull hair.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2025
  • The Strategic Goal The goal side of things is fairly obvious and self-explanatory.
    — James Itkoff, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023
  • And for the child-free among us, the allure of a picturesque resort completely devoid of screaming children is pretty self-explanatory.
    — Leena Kim, Town & Country, 25 May 2023
  • The latter, hosted by Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, is also self-explanatory.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 June 2024
  • The next toggle switch is Add other members, which is relatively self-explanatory.
    — David Nield, WIRED, 1 Dec. 2024
  • Behind that self-explanatory name are some 2,000 books and magazines that are the bedrock for Yagi’s own work.
    — Lily Templeton, WWD, 16 Sep. 2024
  • The economic logic behind this approach is self-explanatory.
    — Connie Etemadi, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Gas and electric-powered snow blowers are pretty self-explanatory, but single- and double-stage snow blowers take a bit of explanation.
    — Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2023
  • Fallston’s rebound belt is self-explanatory, awarded objectively to the team’s top rebounder(s).
    — Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-explanatory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: