indirection
noun
in·di·rec·tion
ˌin-də-ˈrek-shən 
-(ˌ)dī-
1
a
: indirect action or procedure
b
: lack of direction : aimlessness
2
a
: lack of straightforwardness and openness : deceitfulness
b
: something (such as an act or statement) marked by lack of straightforwardness
hated diplomatic indirections—
Rev. of Reviews
Rev. of Reviews
Examples of indirection in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As soon as people have choices, the system has to have this indirection.
—IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2023
Computing’s main tricks are abstraction and indirection.
—Barath Raghavan, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2023
The indirection is not purposeless; Edelman is building the service roads to his main argument.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 27 June 2023
Another form of indirection is employing art history.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2023
No more indirection for me.
—Darryl Pinckney, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020
Axios-ese strikes me as particularly unsuited to corporate communication, which for better or worse is packed deliberately with euphemism and indirection and exaggerated diplomacy.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 26 Sep. 2022
Dutiful sons often revere their fathers for their instruction in the ways of the world—by direction and indirection, sterling example and train wreck.
—Edward Kosner, WSJ, 5 May 2022
This might suggest that a truer study of the psyche and its place in the world could be conducted via indirection or obliquity.
—Matthew Bevis, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2022
IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2023
Computing’s main tricks are abstraction and indirection.
—Barath Raghavan, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2023
The indirection is not purposeless; Edelman is building the service roads to his main argument.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 27 June 2023
Another form of indirection is employing art history.
—Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2023
No more indirection for me.
—Darryl Pinckney, The New York Review of Books, 20 Aug. 2020
Axios-ese strikes me as particularly unsuited to corporate communication, which for better or worse is packed deliberately with euphemism and indirection and exaggerated diplomacy.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 26 Sep. 2022
Dutiful sons often revere their fathers for their instruction in the ways of the world—by direction and indirection, sterling example and train wreck.
—Edward Kosner, WSJ, 5 May 2022
This might suggest that a truer study of the psyche and its place in the world could be conducted via indirection or obliquity.
—Matthew Bevis, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indirection.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Dictionary Entries Near indirection
Cite this Entry
“Indirection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indirection. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on indirection
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for indirection
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share