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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Recent Examples of circuitous
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
Bennett’s journey was more circuitous.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026
Davis took a circuitous route to get back.
—Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Nosková has taken a more circuitous route to her second WTA 1000 semifinal, but her game is suited to the conditions at Indian Wells, especially on its hotter days, and has the power to take the match out of Sabalenka’s hands — if Sabalenka does not do it to her first.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Andrea Sachs The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
Bennett’s journey was more circuitous.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026
Davis took a circuitous route to get back.
—Steve Megargee, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Nosková has taken a more circuitous route to her second WTA 1000 semifinal, but her game is suited to the conditions at Indian Wells, especially on its hotter days, and has the power to take the match out of Sabalenka’s hands — if Sabalenka does not do it to her first.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuitous
Adjective
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The View From 2028 One Democratic political strategist with no ties to Moore suggested that the intense focus on Moore’s bio now could be helpful to him in a roundabout way.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
6 Apr. 2026
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In a strange roundabout way, Mendenhall put America on the metric system.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The North Carolina folk-rock band’s quiet and rambling third album exists in a cloud of dreamy contemplation.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
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Trump’s speech was at times entertaining, rambling, repetitive, and combative.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Iranian regime has yet to formally respond to a new proposal drafted by Pakistan, which was handed to Washington and Tehran on Sunday evening after indirect talks over the weekend.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Wealthy couples frequently set up spousal lifetime access trusts, or SLATs, to get assets out of their estate but keep indirect access to them through their spouse.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
2 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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The wood paneling was applied in an unusual circular manner in one of the bedrooms.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
7 Apr. 2026
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Instead, a large, circular navigation pad sits in the center, with its edges swelling outward.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuitous. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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