as in roundabout
not straightforward or direct
the cab driver took a very indirect route to the hotel a long-winded, indirect answer to a very simple question
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of indirect
The study's authors think the rise was largely due to indirect deaths not caused by the blaze itself, but rather factors like chronic health conditions being exacerbated or someone facing a disruption in their ability to access medical care.
—
Jessica Rendall, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Use heavy-duty grill-safe tools, mats, or indirect cooking techniques instead.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025
Deciphering if any of those cloud providers are Nvidia's mystery customers is difficult, in part because the chipmaker has wiggle room in the definitions of its direct and indirect customers.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2025
Hyundai’s investment in the United States will create more than 100,000 direct and indirect job opportunities by 2028 and 14,000 full-time jobs, the automaker estimated.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indirect
Jessica Rendall, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Use heavy-duty grill-safe tools, mats, or indirect cooking techniques instead.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2025
Deciphering if any of those cloud providers are Nvidia's mystery customers is difficult, in part because the chipmaker has wiggle room in the definitions of its direct and indirect customers.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2025
Hyundai’s investment in the United States will create more than 100,000 direct and indirect job opportunities by 2028 and 14,000 full-time jobs, the automaker estimated.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indirect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indirect
Adjective
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Fishers nixes plans for another Allisonville roundabout after crash spike at 96th Street circle Noblesville has dominated Indiana soccer for years.—
John Tufts,
IndyStar,
4 Sep. 2025
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As such, the networks aren’t on the hook for makegoods in the increasingly unlikely event of under-deliveries, which is a roundabout way of suggesting that the annual audience tallies are mostly of interest to PR types.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Kappahl offers secondhand clothing, across all categories, online in Sweden through circular software partner reCRQL, with further expansion plans on the horizon.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Sep. 2025
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As per the press release, these included small, circular protrusions or bumps, elliptical protrusions with a fingerprint-like pattern, and a third set of large, round marks.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indirect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indirect. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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