circumlocutory

adjective

Definition of circumlocutorynext
as in rambling
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea the studio's statement that "the film's earnings did not live up to expectations" was a circumlocutory admission that the movie was a flop

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumlocutory
  1. rambling
  2. prolix
  3. talkative
  4. verbose
  5. circuitous
  6. exaggerated
  7. wordy
Adjective
  • But the documentary, to a fault, mirrors the Deadheads’ rambling aura and general absence of structure.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 July 2026
  • The rambling title track is another thoughtful tribute, paying homage to the female warriors that tend bar while often experiencing hell.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 16 July 2026
Definition of rambling
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
  • In Emme Lund’s 2022 novel, the talkative bird (named Gail) who lives between Owen’s ribs acts as a metaphor for both queerness and disability.
    — Chris Martin, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • In the cab, my driver is kind and talkative, but not overly so.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Definition of talkative
Adjective
  • The loudest or most verbose person in the meeting does not automatically ‘win’ every conversation.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Both Laertes and Polonius are gender-swapped in this production, with Patrice Egleston playing the verbose mother of two daughters instead of a son and a daughter — a change that subtly shifts the dynamics in this family of women.
    — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
Definition of verbose
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of circuitous
Adjective
  • Joseph’s team’s collection has a lot of interesting separates, including a cropped leather jacket from Naheim with exaggerated shoulders.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • Parental alienation is a dynamic that occurs when a child refuses to have a relationship with a parent due to manipulation by the other parent, such as by conveying of exaggerated or false information, as Psychology Today explains.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
Definition of exaggerated
Adjective
  • Some card descriptions are a bit wordy, forcing pauses to reread during your first attempts.
    — Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026
  • Here are the full tiebreaker rules from FIFA for teams that have the same number of points following their three group stage matches (plus a quick translation for a couple of the wordier tiebreakers).
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of wordy
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.

Browse Nearby Words

circumlocution
circumlocutory
circumnavigate
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Cite this Entry

“Circumlocutory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumlocutory. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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