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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Recent Examples of indirect
Our methodology To determine which credit cards offered the best perks for golfers, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards, focusing on those with direct golf benefits, indirect credits and/or unique opportunities.
—
Ryley Amond, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Like the auto industry, tourism accounts for over 10% of the country's GDP – and some estimates even spike that number over 20% when taking both direct and indirect tourist expenditures into account.
—New Atlas, 8 Apr. 2026
Tapping into the soft skills that for millennia have allowed women to profit outside the bounds of conventional economy, the tradwife offers a vision of purity to her online audience in exchange for engagement and direct or indirect income.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
The Iranian regime has yet to formally respond to a new proposal drafted by Pakistan, which was handed to Washington and Tehran on Sunday evening after indirect talks over the weekend.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for indirect
Ryley Amond, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Like the auto industry, tourism accounts for over 10% of the country's GDP – and some estimates even spike that number over 20% when taking both direct and indirect tourist expenditures into account.
—New Atlas, 8 Apr. 2026
Tapping into the soft skills that for millennia have allowed women to profit outside the bounds of conventional economy, the tradwife offers a vision of purity to her online audience in exchange for engagement and direct or indirect income.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
The Iranian regime has yet to formally respond to a new proposal drafted by Pakistan, which was handed to Washington and Tehran on Sunday evening after indirect talks over the weekend.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for indirect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indirect
Adjective
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The View From 2028 One Democratic political strategist with no ties to Moore suggested that the intense focus on Moore’s bio now could be helpful to him in a roundabout way.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
6 Apr. 2026
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In a strange roundabout way, Mendenhall put America on the metric system.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The wood paneling was applied in an unusual circular manner in one of the bedrooms.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
7 Apr. 2026
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Instead, a large, circular navigation pad sits in the center, with its edges swelling outward.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Indirect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indirect. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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