Synonyms of circumstantial

circumstantial

adjective

ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan(t)-shəl 

as in detailed

including many small descriptive features

the circumstantial account of his surgery told us more than we really wanted to know about the stomach

Synonyms & Similar Words

• detailed
• thorough
• full
• particularized
• particular
• elaborate
• descriptive
• comprehensive
• specific
• accurate
• minute
• blow-by-blow
• graphical
• entire
• precise
• abundant
• copious
• explicit
• vivid
• graphic
• distinct
• exhaustive
• complete
• itemized
• panoramic
• exact
• thoroughgoing
• enumerated
• specified
• correct
• inclusive
• exhausting
• listed
• encyclopedic
• replete
• picturesque
• in-depth
• delineated
• numerated
• omnibus
• inventoried
• inclusionary
• sharp
• mapped (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• summary
• brief
• compendious
• short
• succinct
• concise
• pithy
• terse
• ambiguous
• vague
• compact
• crisp
• curtailed
• nebulous
• sketchy
• general
• indeterminate
• cut
• abridged
• abbreviated
• nonspecific
• broad
• nondescript
• trimmed
• unspecified
• overall
• shortened
• pruned
• bird's-eye

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective circumstantial differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of circumstantial are detailed, minute, and particular. While all these words mean "dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point," circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space.

a circumstantial account of our visit

When could detailed be used to replace circumstantial?

The meanings of detailed and circumstantial largely overlap; however, detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail.

a detailed analysis of the event

When is minute a more appropriate choice than circumstantial?

In some situations, the words minute and circumstantial are roughly equivalent. However, minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details.

a minute examination of a fossil

When can particular be used instead of circumstantial?

The synonyms particular and circumstantial are sometimes interchangeable, but particular implies a precise attention to every detail.

a particular description of the scene of the crime

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of circumstantial

The evidence was mainly circumstantial, focusing on Linda's actions before and after the fire. —Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 20 May 2025

Frederick’s defense argued the evidence at play was circumstantial at best, per the outlet. —Nicole Acosta, People.com, 8 May 2025

Ana’s body was never found, which made the international murder case a challenge for FBI agents and prosecutors who had built a largely circumstantial body of evidence against Knezevich. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025

Lower-maintenance color treatments such as a face-framing highlight or partial highlight are on the lower end of pricing, says Casanova, but pricing can still be circumstantial. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025