If you feel moderately offended when someone states the obvious, you’re not alone. But is there a word for “saying something obvious” that you can use as a response?
We’ve compiled a list of perfect words and phrases below. So, if you’re looking for another word for “stating the obvious”, read on!
Words for Stating the Obvious
Our first list will look at what you can call a person who states the obvious:
- Captain Obvious
- Sherlock
- Master of the obvious
Next, let’s look at some words that describe the act or result of stating the obvious:
- Belabor
- Prima facie
- Truism
- Prolixity
- Redundant
- Superfluous
- Self-evident
- Bromide
- Glaringly obvious
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- You can call someone who always states the obvious “Captain Obvious.”
- To “belabor” means to over-explain something that is already clear.
- “Prima facie” is a legal term for that which is obvious at first glance.
Keep reading to see how we use our choice of terms and phrases to state the obvious in some helpful example sentences!
Captain Obvious
According to the Wiktionary, “Captain Obvious” is a humorous and often derisive nickname for “someone who makes superfluous or obvious statements.”
Usually, you will precede this phrase with a sarcastic “thank you.” Essentially, it has the same effect as the popular idiom: “No s***, Sherlock.”
The name “Captain Obvious” alludes to superhero names from popular comic books. Think about “Captain America” or “Captain Cold,” for example.
Usually, the title of the hero relates to the place they protect. Or it is linked in some way to their superpowers.
By implication, when you call someone “Captain Obvious,” you are implying that they are the champion of obvious facts. Or that stating the obvious is their superpower.
Have a look at how we use this funny, if somewhat mean, title in some examples:
Thank you, Captain Obvious. What would we do without your startling insights?
Captain Obvious back there pointed out that we probably shouldn’t try to walk the whole seven miles.
Belabor
To “belabor the obvious” is a synonym for “stating the obvious.”
The Cambridge Dictionary defines the word “belabor” as “to explain something more than necessary.” Thus, this is a good literary term for “stating the obvious.”
Essentially, “belabor” is a word for saying something obvious. After all, an explanation wouldn’t be unnecessary if its content wasn’t self-evident.
Where a point is already clear and obvious, a person over-explaining it is likely to cause frustration to everyone in the vicinity.
After all, it can feel like an insult to your intelligence when someone points out something so self-evident.
Therefore, “belabor” is often used in a negative way, and people are generally discouraged from belaboring whenever possible.
Check out the examples below to see what we mean:
There’s no need to belabor the obvious, Shelley; I think we are all perfectly capable of understanding what’s going on here.
I don’t mean to belabor the obvious, but a person can’t actually stay underwater for that long.
Prima Facie
The Latin phrase “prima facie” is, in some ways, the legal term for “stating the obvious.”
According to Merriam-Webster, “prima facie” means “true, valid, or sufficient at first impression.” Moreover, a second definition is provided: “legally sufficient to establish a fact or a case unless disproved.”
In short, if a statement appears to be true based on the court’s first impression of it, it will be treated as true unless additional evidence disproves it.
Therefore, if something is “prima facie,” it is obvious at first glance.
Finally, see how we use this phrase in a couple of practical examples:
There are a number of prima facie reasons why the defendant should be made to pay my client’s legal fees.
Although the claimant’s accusations appeared plausible prima facie, new evidence has cast doubt over their legitimacy.