1
as in roundabout
not straightforward or direct
we took a circuitous route to the airport so as to avoid the massive traffic jam on the highway
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2
as in rambling
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea
a circuitous explanation for what seems like a fairly basic concept
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Recent Examples of circuitous
As the country has carved a circuitous path toward justice and commemoration, ESMA has emerged as a central symbol of that historical reckoning.
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Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
The other issue—which in a circuitous manner helped establish the Durston mythos—was product availability, or, more accurately, a lack thereof.
—M. John Fayhee, Outside Online, 28 Nov. 2024
In 2025, however, North Americans eager to see the majestic fjords, awe-inspiring icebergs, and incandescent northern lights on the world’s largest and least densely populated island can take a less circuitous route.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024
The rather circuitous plot culminates with our underdogs attending the annual Unholy Masquerade and battling several rival vampires, as well as a pack of werewolves.
—Ars Technica, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for circuitous 
Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
The other issue—which in a circuitous manner helped establish the Durston mythos—was product availability, or, more accurately, a lack thereof.
—M. John Fayhee, Outside Online, 28 Nov. 2024
In 2025, however, North Americans eager to see the majestic fjords, awe-inspiring icebergs, and incandescent northern lights on the world’s largest and least densely populated island can take a less circuitous route.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024
The rather circuitous plot culminates with our underdogs attending the annual Unholy Masquerade and battling several rival vampires, as well as a pack of werewolves.
—Ars Technica, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for circuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuitous
Adjective
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Luke Vetter took a roundabout way to celebrate his birthday for Lincoln-Way East.Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
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Kaitlin Nowak has since responded to the news in a roundabout way.Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 1996, Patsy Ramsey called 911 to report her 6-year-old daughter JonBenét missing, and found a rambling ransom note left inside their Boulder, Colorado, home.Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2024
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His statement came a day after the release of the Netflix series, which takes viewers back to the morning after Christmas 28 years ago, when JonBenét’s mother called 911 to report finding a rambling ransom note and her daughter missing.Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The deal comes after weeks of a number of intensive rounds of indirect negotiations in the Qatari capital Doha between Israel and Hamas, mediated by facilitators from U.S., Egypt and Qatar.Michele Kelemen, NPR, 15 Jan. 2025
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This occurs when a high percentage of people in a community have developed immunity, ensuring that future outbreaks affect fewer individuals and are quickly contained. Humans, of course, are not the only species that benefits from the direct and indirect protections of vaccines.Simon F. Haeder, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Words, including those of artists themselves—as prolix in their way as critics, curators, and historians—can serve vision but can also deflect from it.Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
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In 1949, a young American artist named Ray Johnson left Black Mountain College near Asheville, N.C., moved to New York City and began to explore his prolix talents, both visual and verbal.Roberta Smith, New York Times, 30 May 2024
Adjective
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Built in 1995, the mansion has 15 full bathrooms, four half bathrooms, a regulation-sized basketball gymnasium, a circular infinity pool, a cigar room, a putting green and a tennis court.Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
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The industry-specific solution supports circular logistic flows for returnable and reusable packaging material such as containers, boxes, and pallets — from supplier and customer deliveries to intra-company movements and the journey back to the company.Forbes, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuitous. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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