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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of circuitous
Several highways connecting the capital to the provinces have been damaged by floods and landslides, forcing travelers to take long, circuitous routes to reach Kabul, Public Works Ministry spokesman Ashraf Haqshinas said Saturday.
—
Abdul Qahar Afghan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
When asked if this characterization is correct, Griffin effectively answered yes, in a circuitous fashion.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of new lawsuits, led by Hursh, will follow the circuitous path left by Nida.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Mar. 2026
To avoid closed or hazardous airspace, airlines are suspending routes or redrawing flight maps, sometimes following a more circuitous path.
—Andrea Sachs The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Abdul Qahar Afghan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
When asked if this characterization is correct, Griffin effectively answered yes, in a circuitous fashion.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of new lawsuits, led by Hursh, will follow the circuitous path left by Nida.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Mar. 2026
To avoid closed or hazardous airspace, airlines are suspending routes or redrawing flight maps, sometimes following a more circuitous path.
—Andrea Sachs The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuitous
Adjective
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While looking for the vehicle in the roundabout nearby, the officer noticed the BMW was in a canal on the north side of Loxahatchee Road.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
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Neighborhoods like those off El Camino del Norte are also impacted by the high speeds and high volumes of cut-through commuter traffic, which the roundabout hopes to help solve by keeping traffic flowing through the intersection.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The rambling, low-slung building, containing 200 rooms, including 36 suites, is easy to get lost in.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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Trump lashed out at them and Tucker in a long, rambling social media post earlier this month.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The port says the reintroduction of cruising to Philadelphia is projected to generate 2,185 direct and indirect jobs and approximately $300 million in annual economic output throughout the state.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
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Most, though, sprout reliably and prefer indirect light.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Even the blandest overtures can whip him into a frantic, pornographic, prolix ecstasy.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2026
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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
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While sustainability remains a central focus—driven by fiber innovation, resource-efficient dyeing and circular design—producers are also pushing creative boundaries with color, textures and elevated storytelling.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
22 Apr. 2026
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These developments signal a shift toward circular systems that reduce emissions while extracting value from existing materials.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuitous. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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