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 ReviewsExamples of indirection in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His direction is the art of indirection, something borne out by other films in the MOMA retrospective.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024
The statute explicitly prohibits targeting Americans for surveillance — including by indirection (i.e., targeting non-Americans only as a pretext to spy on Americans with whom the foreigners are in contact).
—The Editors, National Review, 12 Apr. 2024
Here, the explanation for such caution and indirection is straightforward and compelling.
—Peter Skerry, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2017
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
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024
The statute explicitly prohibits targeting Americans for surveillance — including by indirection (i.e., targeting non-Americans only as a pretext to spy on Americans with whom the foreigners are in contact).
—The Editors, National Review, 12 Apr. 2024
Here, the explanation for such caution and indirection is straightforward and compelling.
—Peter Skerry, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2017
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near indirection
Cite this Entry
“Indirection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indirection. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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