as in roundabout
not straightforward or direct
a rather circular discussion of the problem that never addresses it directly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in booklet
a short printed publication with no cover or with a paper cover
promptly tosses out those advertising circulars that come in the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circular
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2025
The circular jumbotron seems like a must.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 June 2025
But the bigger problem now is the big bang of agency memos, bulletins, circulars, and other forms of regulatory dark matter—edicts that bypass traditional public-notice rulemaking procedures, allegedly lack the force of law, yet few are brave enough to ignore.
—Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circular
Adjective
The circular piece has a 12-inch diameter that can pack away toys, small blankets, slippers, and more to declutter high-traffic areas.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2025
The circular jumbotron seems like a must.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025
Noun
When funding for these circulars came to an end, Fred picked up the eclipse baton and with the help of Canadian meteorologist Jay Anderson, produced their own eclipse circulars, funded under the auspices of NASA.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 June 2025
But the bigger problem now is the big bang of agency memos, bulletins, circulars, and other forms of regulatory dark matter—edicts that bypass traditional public-notice rulemaking procedures, allegedly lack the force of law, yet few are brave enough to ignore.
—Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circular
Adjective
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Hornung took a roundabout way to becoming a therapist.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
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Olson stars on High Potential as Morgan Gillory, a single mother of three whose IQ of 160 and roundabout ways of thinking become an asset to the LAPD's Major Crimes Division.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The 2025 Stamp Program The Holiday Cheer booklet joins a busy 2025 USPS stamp program that also features issues honoring various American figures and historical events.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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Fintie Passport Holder Keeping your boarding pass safe doesn’t necessarily require a large storage case, so instead, this slim booklet-style protector is a great alternative at just $10.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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They are engaged in indirect conflict over Ukraine, whose defense against the ongoing Russian invasion NATO is supporting with materiel and training.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Now the government is organizing parliamentary elections, but the electoral process will be indirect and tightly controlled; a third of parliament’s seats will be appointed by the presidency.—
Sam Heller,
Time,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The couple is among the hundreds of thousands who have fled Gaza’s most populous area since Israel launched its new offensive on Tuesday, heeding Israeli leaflets and social media warnings to head south.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
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The method also enables the placement of dense computational points in critical areas, such as the tire-road contact or the closure of heart valve leaflets.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The left side will be a resource center with free Wi-Fi and brochures from local organizations, and the right side will sell concessions and merchandise from local businesses.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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While that slogan works well on a sales brochure, the G800’s ability to stay aloft for 17 hours also necessitated a fresh approach to the cabin’s ergonomics.—
J. George Gorant,
Robb Report,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The macOS Finder’s Recents folder works similarly.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
22 Sep. 2025
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To do this, create a new folder on your desktop.—
Barry Collins,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Continue reading … DIGITAL'S NEWS QUIZ – Test your knowledge of the MLB controversy and campus flyers.—
,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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This September, workers stopped delivering flyers.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Over its final thirty years the abolitionist movement was a popular cause written about in novels, poems, and pamphlets that Austen would have known about and read.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Sep. 2025
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Besides gauging their health and well-being, these volunteers offer information such as advice on how to stay cool – part of a wider awareness campaign that includes distributing pamphlets in public spaces and holding free talks on the topic.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circular. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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