self-evident

adjective

ˌself-ˈe-və-dənt How to pronounce self-evident (audio)
Definition of self-evidentnext
as in obvious
not needing proof in order to be accepted the self-evident truth that all people have the right of self-determination

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of self-evident This is how one early Japanese translation of the Declaration of Independence rendered the self-evident truth mentioned in its most celebrated sentence. — Teresa M. Bejan, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026 These were self-evident rules, and the women followed them piously. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026 From the European cultural point of view there was, here in the Mediterranean, a pragmatic culture which regarded the divine presence as self-evident. — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 28 June 2026 The parts of the declaration worth knowing about are the soaring sentences in the opening paragraphs about self-evident truths, pursuing happiness and all men being created equal. — Robert Parkinson, The Conversation, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-evident
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-evident
  1. obvious
  2. axiomatic
  3. evident
  4. apparent
  5. unmistakable
Adjective
  • The tents with a bathroom in them, a seemingly obvious upgrade from those without (there’s a communal washroom), have toilets that aren’t completely enclosed.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Put the paths of 1991, 2009 and 2027 on a globe, and the approximately 120-degree westward jump between successive members becomes immediately obvious.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of obvious
Adjective
  • Statements tend to be axiomatic rather than descriptive of particular individuals.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 10 June 2026
  • Just a few years after the arrival of ZF, Kurt Gödel showed that no axiomatic system capable of basic arithmetic can be used to prove its own consistency.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of axiomatic
Adjective
  • And his respect for how Mario Cristobal has built UM’s program was evident in unsolicited comments this week.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Stuhlbarg, whose Vice President tends to cower in terror in the corner of the frame, becomes particularly evident as the movie’s comic secret weapon upon closer examination.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of evident
Adjective
  • This change is apparent in the fact that European governments, too, are cutting funding for religious freedom advocacy.
    — Matthew Schmitz, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Ken Urker, the partner of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, made comments about being depressed before being found dead in his Louisiana home from an apparent drug overdose, authorities said.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of apparent
Adjective
  • Its bright instrumentation and warm, easygoing rhythm make the track an uplifting addition with an unmistakable sense of place.
    — qygwork, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The show’s combination of a dark family saga and an idyllic tropical setting made the Florida Keys an unmistakable part of the story.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of unmistakable

Browse Nearby Words

self-evidence
self-evident
self-evidently
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-evident.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-evident. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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