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
Adjective
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Spinella shucks off sentimentality, always showing us Con’s offhand humor and sometimes nervous, defensive rambling.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 2026 -
Carnivores shouldn’t miss out on Peter upstairs—a rambling dining venue perched on the 24th floor, high above the rooms, that looks like a glitzy Vegas club complete with purple accents and ethereal, Avatar-esque light sculptures.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 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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Llorca recalls the technician being talkative and upbeat throughout most of the exam.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
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Some cat breeds are particularly chatty, and their talkative nature is perfectly normal.—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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To that, the verbose CEO pumped up HBO and streamer HBO Max as the real crown jewels in the WBD empire.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
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Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 bears his recognizable fast-paced, verbose style and features an almost impossibly starry ensemble cast.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the shipments continued through ever-more circuitous routes, and used other nations as launchpads for RSF attacks.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
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Yoo’s images circle back on themselves in pleasurably circuitous loops.—
Diana Arterian,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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However, while yellow journalism often resulted in articles that were exaggerated or misleading, TMZ usually takes pains to be rigorous and accurate in its reporting.—
Angelica Kalika,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
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Meanwhile, Ganni and Hill House Home have given the look a more playful spin, with puff sleeves, frilled details, and exaggerated proportions.—
Irina Grechko,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Legal opinions tend to be dry, wordy, and intentionally vague.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
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Conrad is full of wordy comic dialogue that often sings in its idiosyncrasy but also elicits little more than a chuckle.—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Circumlocutory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumlocutory. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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