No-brainer
What it means
A choice so clearly beneficial that it requires little thought.
Reach for it when calling a decision so clearly favorable that little deliberation is needed
Extending the library hours was a no-brainer for the council.
Words to choose between 6
| playful |
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|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| formal |
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playful
slam dunk
Fits when confident informal certainty suits the audience
Careful The sports idiom can sound boastful.
-
everyday
easy choice
Fits when plain language should stress simple selection
Careful An easy choice may still have weak benefits.
-
everyday
obvious choice
Fits when the evidence points clearly to one option
Careful Obvious can dismiss legitimate uncertainty.
-
warm
clear winner
Fits when one option compares favorably with rivals
Careful A winner can still require careful evaluation.
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formal
foregone conclusion
Fits when the outcome appears settled in advance
Careful A conclusion concerns outcome, not necessarily a wise decision.
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formal
self-evident decision
Fits when the reasoning should appear inherent in the facts
Careful Self-evident is a strong claim and invites scrutiny.
Opposites 3
- dilemma
- tough call
- close decision
Common phrases 3
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an absolute no-brainer
Replacing the leaking valve was an absolute no-brainer.
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seem like a no-brainer
The free safety upgrade may seem like a no-brainer.
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make it a no-brainer
The lifetime warranty helped make it a no-brainer for the library.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
No-brainer can belittle people who see real tradeoffs; use it only when the stakes and evidence genuinely align.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Flame, not lame, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated