self-explanatory Hear it!

self-explanatory Definition

self·-explanatory (-ek splan′ə tôr′ē)

adjective

explaining itself; obvious without explanation
also self-explaining self′·-explain′ing
self-explanatory Synonyms

self-explanatory

modif.

plain, clear, distinct, certain, easy to understand, comprehensible, understandable, obvious, open, visible, easy to see, easily seen, manifest, self-evident, unmistakable, unequivocal, plain as the nose on one's face*, clear as crystal*, plain as day*.

Antonyms obscure*, vague*, uncertain.

self-explanatory Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • make: Better make the link self-explanatory, for instance: ' product details ' .

Modifies a noun

  • title: Each table should have a short, self-explanatory title.
  • ensemble: More hairdresser than barbershop, this self-explanatory ensemble first performed at Soho's exclusive Groucho Club back in mid-2000.
  • name: This kind of word formation is called conversion, a self-explanatory name.
  • interface: The self-explanatory, multi-lingual user interface makes administration easy.

Modifying Another Word

  • fairly: In both files, the table headings are fairly self-explanatory.
  • pretty: The top four are pretty self-explanatory, just have a go with each setting to see the distance of the sound.
  • reasonably: Each of the echo commands should be reasonably self-explanatory.
  • largely: Unusual as is the name of this resort, it is largely self-explanatory.
  • mostly: No more carefree laughter Silence ever after Mostly self-explanatory, this verse simply expresses ABBA's sadness at the loss of Buddy Holly.
  • quite: The contents of the Help menu should be quite self-explanatory.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: It might seem self-explanatory that the production of speech perpetuates the process of cognition that instigated it: but what of sign language?
  • become: Boughton's case this now becomes self-explanatory: he doesn't seem to know who is saying what.