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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Recent Examples of circuitous
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
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
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
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
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
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuitous
Adjective
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Cars and trucks piled into the roundabout, horns blaring.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
According to a news release from the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, the man now identified as Wielkiewicz was driving a Chevrolet SUV south on South Ten Mile Road when his vehicle collided with a barrier wall at the Victory roundabout.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Spinella shucks off sentimentality, always showing us Con’s offhand humor and sometimes nervous, defensive rambling.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
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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
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But certain connections to the state—if indirect ones, through its banks—were inevitable.—
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
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In return for the pricing concessions, Glencore immediately withdrew layoff notices, safeguarding more than 1,500 positions and thousands of other indirect jobs across the platinum belt.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
1 June 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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Their harsh geometric forms are sometimes punctuated by recognizable symbols like crosses and hearts, while others are made entirely of abstract twisting, circular, and diagonal forms.—
Eliza Goodpasture,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
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According to Allie, viewers continue sending screenshots of their own hilariously circular text exchanges on a daily basis.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuitous. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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