1
as in roundabout
not straightforward or direct
we took a circuitous route to the airport so as to avoid the massive traffic jam on the highway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rambling
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea
a circuitous explanation for what seems like a fairly basic concept
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of circuitous
Travel through the area can get circuitous for drivers as so many area streets are one-way and the area is heavily used by pedestrians.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026
Cherry took a circuitous route back to San Diego, moving to Phoenix for high school, then a junior college in New Mexico for two seasons, then UNLV in 2024-25, then Sacramento State last season.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Two major highways have been closed for days due to landslides and floods, forcing travelers to take long, circuitous routes to reach their destinations.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
Hundreds of new lawsuits, led by Hursh, will follow the circuitous path left by Nida.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026
Cherry took a circuitous route back to San Diego, moving to Phoenix for high school, then a junior college in New Mexico for two seasons, then UNLV in 2024-25, then Sacramento State last season.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Two major highways have been closed for days due to landslides and floods, forcing travelers to take long, circuitous routes to reach their destinations.
—ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
Hundreds of new lawsuits, led by Hursh, will follow the circuitous path left by Nida.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuitous
Adjective
-
Without revealing too much, this structure from al-Mansour and co-writer Brad Niemann ends up having a roundabout reason too, given a bizarre third-act twist that renders moot the film’s entire point of view, along with its central themes.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
8 June 2026
-
Cars and trucks piled into the roundabout, horns blaring.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Spinella shucks off sentimentality, always showing us Con’s offhand humor and sometimes nervous, defensive rambling.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
-
Carnivores shouldn’t miss out on Peter upstairs—a rambling dining venue perched on the 24th floor, high above the rooms, that looks like a glitzy Vegas club complete with purple accents and ethereal, Avatar-esque light sculptures.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Cal Fire officials said the terrain allows crews to practice both direct and indirect firefighting and fire-control techniques while providing agencies an opportunity to train together in incident command and fire ground tactical operations.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2026
-
Most crypto tokens have an indirect relationship with the underlying platform activity, but hyperliquid is different.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Even the blandest overtures can whip him into a frantic, pornographic, prolix ecstasy.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Ronald, who with his shock of white hair and prolix tendencies comes off like a frazzled professor, keeps to a more limited circuit writing out of his house and his office.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For centuries, Native American tribes lived in the area, growing crops and building earthlodges, a circular home of earth and wood that was the center of family life, housing multiple generations, according to the National Park Service.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
Each leather chair has a circular blue sticker of the 2026 World Cup.—
Pete Grathoff
June 8,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuitous. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
