Synonyms of indirect

indirect

adjective

ˌin-də-ˈrekt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• roundabout
• circular
• misleading
• winding
• circuitous
• twisting
• subtle
• tortuous
• serpentine
• sinuous
• deceptive
• insidious
• rambling
• duplicitous
• crooked
• dishonest
• wandering
• verbose
• calculating
• circumlocutory
• sneaky
• cunning
• prolix
• underhanded
• deceitful
• crafty
• underhand
• curvy
• meandering
• tricky
• long-winded
• devious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• direct
• straight
• straightforward
• open
• plain
• honest
• frank
• candid
• forthright
• undisguised
• unconcealed

Examples of indirect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It's also marked as food-safe, meaning it can be used as an indirect additive in food packaging.10 A Quick Review Acetone is a colorless liquid often used to remove nail polish and stains from clothing and surfaces. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 14 Aug. 2024

The jam was another product of Tropical Storm Debby's scrape past Tampa Bay, underscoring how much an indirect hit from a weaker storm can upend our lives and routines. —Kathryn Varn, Axios, 14 Aug. 2024

Perhaps an indirect consequence of refrigeration tanking the price of beef once English city dwellers started getting access to cattle raised as far away as South America. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2024

Setting up a charcoal grill is a process, almost an art, that requires getting your coals to just the right shade of gray and then properly arranging them for direct and indirect cooking. —Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 24 July 2024