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
Monday's indirect talks are meant to prepare the way for the release of hostages from Gaza and Palestinians from Israeli detention, mediator Egypt said.
—
Sam Mednick, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
Growing Instructions for Monstera Esqueleto Like other members of the tropical monstera family, Monstera 'Esqueleto' will grow best in bright, indirect light.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
These indirect effects are in addition to the direct impact of lost income for federal workers and those that operate on federal contracts, which leads to reductions in consumption and production.
—John W. Diamond, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
At least 71 indirect deaths were linked to the storm, including 23 in South Carolina, 21 in North Carolina, 16 in Florida, nine in Georgia and one each in Tennessee and Virginia, according to data compiled by the National Hurricane Center.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indirect
Sam Mednick, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
Growing Instructions for Monstera Esqueleto Like other members of the tropical monstera family, Monstera 'Esqueleto' will grow best in bright, indirect light.
—Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
These indirect effects are in addition to the direct impact of lost income for federal workers and those that operate on federal contracts, which leads to reductions in consumption and production.
—John W. Diamond, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
At least 71 indirect deaths were linked to the storm, including 23 in South Carolina, 21 in North Carolina, 16 in Florida, nine in Georgia and one each in Tennessee and Virginia, according to data compiled by the National Hurricane Center.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for indirect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indirect
Adjective
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Multiverse’s founders came to AI in a roundabout way.—
Vivienne Walt,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
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And the challenge of inhabiting such a dark, gruesome world in a weird roundabout way brought a lot of joy and levity to the set.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The country's National Disaster Mitigation Agency told AP that rescue teams were using heavy excavators equipped with jackhammers and circular saws, as well as their bare hands on occasion, to find the 14 students still missing.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
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On the third floor, a vaulted ceiling uncovered an original circular window, and another was found in the library.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indirect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indirect. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.
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