as in roundabout
not straightforward or direct
a rather circular discussion of the problem that never addresses it directly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 circular
Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 20 July 2025
Richard Mille just added a new circular stunner to its lineup.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 18 July 2025
Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2025
The Leader’s circulars feature items at these stores: Best Buy, Cash Wise Foods, EconoFoods, Factory Direct Furniture, Menards, Shopko, Slumberland Furniture, Target and Walmart
Also, check out Sports, Looking Back, The Week Ahead, Picture from the Past, puzzles and more.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circular
Adjective
But the circular rose garden has been preserved and maintained and buds begin to bloom in May, continuing through the summer.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 20 July 2025
Richard Mille just added a new circular stunner to its lineup.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 18 July 2025
Noun
Other ways to save on eggs include using store circulars, or buying them with a cash-back credit card.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2025
The Leader’s circulars feature items at these stores: Best Buy, Cash Wise Foods, EconoFoods, Factory Direct Furniture, Menards, Shopko, Slumberland Furniture, Target and Walmart
Also, check out Sports, Looking Back, The Week Ahead, Picture from the Past, puzzles and more.
—Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circular
Adjective
-
With Duckworth, in a roundabout way, the original uncertainty probably gives South Carolina more clarity than most heading into December.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
-
Texas is one of the states that sued General Motors last year for seeking driver data in a less roundabout fashion.—
Kevin Purdy,
Ars Technica,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The journal remained half-finished and forgotten, gathering dust on my desk, until the next booklet caught my eye.—
Michelle Han,
Refinery29,
21 July 2025
-
Film Forum will replicate that at screenings, with all audience members receiving a limited edition glossy facsimile of the original booklet.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
But the indirect benefits seem to reflect a posture against green energy, related to unbelief in climate change, and these lead to support for inefficient energy alternatives like nuclear and geothermal and gas-fired turbines.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
The indirect talks over a U.S. proposal for a 60-day ceasefire are being held in Doha, but optimism that surfaced last week of a looming deal has largely faded, with both sides accusing each other of intransigence.—
Crispian Balmer,
USA Today,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
The work shows a self-portrait of Jones on all fours looking up at the viewer, while in the top right corner is a clipping from a leaflet attributed to The Centre for Spastic Children in Cheyne Walk.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
14 July 2025
-
During the first week of Wimbledon, campaigners were handing out leaflets that were entitled ‘Love Tennis.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Radically Simplify Recruitment & Marketing The vast machinery of admissions – glossy brochures, armies of recruiters crisscrossing the country, sophisticated enrollment management systems – consumes enormous resources with questionable ROI.—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
-
The brochures are not written from the point of view of a sales pitch for using his services.—
Elliot Raphaelson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
The project will provide more than 12,000 pencils, 1,000 boxes of crayons, 2,800 glue sticks, 560 pocket folders, and items for art projects and other subjects.—
Edward McKinnon,
arkansasonline.com,
9 July 2025
-
Gems in the side panel will also be able to use Workspace functions like @ mentioning, accessing files, folders, and more, Google says.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
But for the biggest part of the burgeoning private credit market, the sector dominated by the PE giants, the business isn’t primarily about taking flyers on less-than-best-in-class borrowers in exchange for fat interest payments.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
17 July 2025
-
The Steelers are taking a flyer on 2025 — signing Rodgers and trading for veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey, among other notable moves — and are intent on trying to find their next franchise quarterback in the 2026 draft, which just so happens to be taking place in Pittsburgh.—
Will Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
Zoo visitors can get botanical tour pamphlets near the ticket booth or online, which are filled with colorful pictures and plant facts.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
-
Then, in 1958, a Massachusetts senator with his sights on the White House published a pamphlet calling for a change to the nation's laws.—
Mo Rocca
July 6,
CBS News,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circular. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share