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
  • The chaotic hearing was marked by Castro-Arroyo rambling and frequently interrupting Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Ellen Sue Venzer as an interpreter translated the proceeding.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
  • On the latest episode of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart took aim at Donald Trump‘s rambling speech during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 28 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
  • Warsh has elected to break with his three immediate predecessors’ efforts to make the Fed more talkative and transparent.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • 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
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
  • The trade paid off for both teams — even if the Lakers took a circuitous route to get back to prominence.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Rouse says the track came together in an unusually circuitous way.
    — SPIN Staff, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of circuitous
Adjective
  • Reports of Usher’s replication have been greatly exaggerated.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, the report names several examples that are indirect, exaggerated and hard to follow.
    — Aaron Coy Moulton, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of exaggerated
Adjective
  • When asked to describe duties, for example, things could get wordy fast.
    — Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 25 July 2026
  • Some card descriptions are a bit wordy, forcing pauses to reread during your first attempts.
    — Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 28 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 10 Aug. 2026.

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