circumstantial

adjective

cir·cum·stan·tial ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan(t)-shəl

Synonyms of circumstantial next

: belonging to, consisting in, or dependent on circumstances

a circumstantial case

circumstantial factors

circumstantial evidence

: pertinent but not essential : incidental

Revolutions usually happen for both structural and circumstantial reasons.—

A. M. S. Aly

: marked by careful attention to detail : abounding in factual details

a circumstantial account of the fight

: ceremonial

the circumstantial splendor of the coronation

circumstantiality

ˌsər-kəm-ˌstan(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē

noun

circumstantially

ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan(t)-sh(ə-)lē

adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for circumstantial

circumstantial, minute, particular, detailed mean dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point.

circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space.

a circumstantial account of our visit

minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details.

a minute examination of a fossil

particular implies a precise attention to every detail.

a particular description of the scene of the crime

detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail.

a detailed analysis of the event

Example Sentences

The evidence is purely circumstantial. The case against him is circumstantial. a circumstantial account of the meeting

Recent Examples on the Web Defense attorney William Shipley argued that the government’s case was circumstantial, not conclusive. —

Spencer S. Hsu, Washington Post, 12 May 2023 But until now, evidence of these events has been purely circumstantial, as University of California, Los Angeles, astrophysicist Smadar Naoz, who was not involved with the study, tells Science News’ James R. Riordon. —

Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2023 If a prospective employer can’t present a job candidate with a compelling value proposition based upon circumstantial job factors and company culture, what’s left? —

Mark Settle, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2021 But because the target is circumstantial and sometimes arbitrary, one’s sense of fairness is violated. —

Thomas Chatterton Williams, Harper's Magazine, 28 Sep. 2021 The State Department’s findings, which were vetted by U.S. intelligence agencies, were made public in a Jan. 15 fact sheet that listed a series of circumstantial reasons why the Covid-19 outbreak might have originated as a result of a lab accident. —

Michael R. Gordon, WSJ, 8 June 2021 Research into personalized brain stimulation also probes at the larger question of why moods or habits that are mild or circumstantial in some people — carefully rechecking a tax form, say, or feeling deep sadness at the death of a loved one — are chronic and debilitating in others. —

New York Times, 24 Feb. 2021 Other evidence has been largely circumstantial. —

Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2021 The case so far is largely circumstantial. —

The Economist, 13 Mar. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'circumstantial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.