Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He self-referentially calls himself “that sadistic letter-abuser, Douglas R. Hofstadter,” and there is indeed a lot of vigorous torquing of serifs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

"Sometimes you wonder why you waited so long for something so disappointing," Captain America says, self-referentially.

From Time • Jul. 7, 2017

He's made YouTube videos of his work, and the poems in his debut collection are self-referentially literary, political and confessional, very funny, almost punctuation-free – and began as a blog.

From The Guardian • Aug. 3, 2012

The news media do not just cover the Super Bowl, it covers itself covering the Super Bowl, self-referentially glorifying in the excess while gorging on television hours and column inches.

From New York Times • Jan. 30, 2010

Hackers are absolutely amazed that suits use this term self-referentially.

From The Jargon File, Version 4.2.2, 20 Aug 2000 by Steele, Guy L.