circuitous

adjective

cir·​cu·​i·​tous (ˌ)sər-ˈkyü-ə-təs How to pronounce circuitous (audio)
1
: having a circular or winding course
a circuitous route
a circuitous journey by snowmobile
2
: not being forthright or direct in language or action
a circuitous explanation
His circuitous form of logic was mind-boggling.
circuitously adverb
circuitousness noun

Did you know?

In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the titular hero Bilbo Baggins takes a circuitous route to the Lonely Mountain, which he helps to reclaim from a monstrous dragon. Although he successfully arrives there—and returns home again—we do not use the adjective circuitous to suggest that his path traces a perfect circle. We’ll get straight to it: although both circuitous and its relative circuit share roots in circus, the Latin word for “circle” (and ancestor of the English words circle and circus), neither need conjure something shaped like, say, a ring. Just as the noun circuit can refer to an indirect route, circuitous describes routes which can appear circular when mapped, but can also be jagged, squiggly, etc. The point is that a journey such as Bilbo’s is not straight, short, or direct, but rather rambling. When used figuratively, circuitous describes something that is not said or done simply and clearly; an example might be a rambling speech about manners in dangerous situations when a direct “Never laugh at live dragons” would suffice.

Examples of circuitous in a Sentence

Their logic seems a bit circuitous. we took a circuitous route to the airport so as to avoid the massive traffic jam on the highway
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
They were given the key by Williams, who, after a circuitous route, admitted to the murders, police said. Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025 The energy giant also continues to insist Moldova's outstanding debts make supplying the country by other circuitous routes — such as through a Russian-Turkish pipeline that tunnels under the Black Sea — untenable. Charles Maynes, NPR, 9 Jan. 2025 It’s been a circuitous route, but every step was taken to get me into a job like this. Beren Cross, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025 Given its circuitous journey, the dress required a little rejuvenation. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for circuitous 

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Medieval Latin circuitosus, from Latin circuitus — see circuit entry 1

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of circuitous was in 1664

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Dictionary Entries Near circuitous

Cite this Entry

“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circuitous. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

circuitous

adjective
cir·​cu·​itous
(ˌ)sər-ˈkyü-ət-əs
1
: not saying what one means in simple and sincere language
2
: having a circular or winding course
a circuitous route
circuitously adverb
circuitousness noun

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