circuitous

adjective

(ˌ)sər-ˈkyü-ə-təs How to pronounce circuitous (audio)
Definition of circuitousnext
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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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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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 Filmmakers Sarah Cooper and Conny Fridh began filming Mosley in 2018, a turning point in his long, circuitous career. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 30 July 2026 That circuitous email chain between homeowners and city officials, including an assistant city attorney, illustrates how homeowners have been stonewalled, Lardon said. — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026 In addition to their unmistakable physical resemblance to each other, there are similarities between Bourdain’s and Sessa’s circuitous lives. — Ok McCausland, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 July 2026 Skeletons began production last month, and Fracassi took to Instagram to celebrate the occasion after the project’s circuitous path. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuitous
  1. roundabout
  2. rambling
  3. indirect
  4. prolix
  5. circular
Adjective
  • The county’s first roundabout, at the intersection of Tienken, Runyon and Washington roads on the Rochester/Rochester Hills border, was very controversial, Bryson recalled.
    — Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • So far this year, there have been 37 crashes at the roundabout — three times more than there were in 2021.
    — Rose Evans August 16, Idaho Statesman, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of roundabout
Adjective
  • And then there’s the Kiyosaki residence, a rambling Moroccan fantasia with muddy adobe walls and a pink door.
    — Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In the podcast, conversations with guests are interspersed with rambling reflections from Von, who is open about his past issues with substance abuse.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of rambling
Adjective
  • The sanctions aim to isolate the Islamic Republic from its remaining economic partners, including China, which buys more than 80% of Iranian oil shipments, usually through indirect channels.
    — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The financial-services industry has always been an indirect and noisy prediction market for relatively narrow topics.
    — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of indirect
Adjective
  • Even the blandest overtures can whip him into a frantic, pornographic, prolix ecstasy.
    — Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The album is a concise, 10-song set, a deliberate contrast to prolix streaming-era albums like the ones released lately by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
    — Jon Pareles, New York Times, 17 May 2024
Definition of prolix
Adjective
  • Glass ceilings give the bar area a bit of a greenhouse feel, while the dining area is more sumptuous, with roomy semi-circular banquettes, oversized lamps, and contemporary art.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The bathroom, for instance, is housed in its own circular pod, while the kitchen sits in a central pit.
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of circular

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circuit judges
circuitous
circuitously
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Cite this Entry

“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuitous. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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