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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of circuitous
And for those of us who have long grown tired of watching flawed and avoidant young white men make the circuitous journey toward seeking help, the scenes also build sympathy for Aaron.
—
Natalia Winkelman, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
Trump did meander through some talk of the economy, though his explanations were often too circuitous or false to be very persuasive.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Chambliss takes unlikely path to playoffs Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss took a circuitous route to the playoffs.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
The Mighty Ducks star, who has been open about his long and circuitous journey from addiction to sobriety, is among the many fans who grew concerned over a recent video of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide star Tylor Chase.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Natalia Winkelman, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
Trump did meander through some talk of the economy, though his explanations were often too circuitous or false to be very persuasive.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Chambliss takes unlikely path to playoffs Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss took a circuitous route to the playoffs.
—CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
The Mighty Ducks star, who has been open about his long and circuitous journey from addiction to sobriety, is among the many fans who grew concerned over a recent video of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide star Tylor Chase.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuitous
Adjective
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This monologue on housing theory was a roundabout way of explaining a photo of Censori with her mother, aunt, and sister, in which Censori looks like the daughter of a Real Housewife of New Jersey, with a clementine tan and leopard-print bustier.—
Anna Peele,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
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Police identified the man as a drug dealer in a roundabout way.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Routh then read from a rambling, 20-page statement.—
David Fischer,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
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Also in the village, with lower prices, the June Lake Villager Motel is a rambling property beneath a vintage mid-century sign.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The latest threat was made one day after the United States and Iran concluded their first two rounds of indirect nuclear talks in Oman.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
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Winemaker Kristina Shideler explains that most of these vineyards sit within the inversion layer—meaning they are covered with fog in the early part of the day—which offer a cooling effect and indirect sunlight into mid-day.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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His answer is this book: a laudably sincere, exasperatingly prolix and occasionally affecting rumination on the state of Egypt—its society, culture, history and politics—pegged to the maddening bureaucracy of the archive.—
Kapil Komireddi,
WSJ,
12 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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Just a mile and a half down a country lane is Oldstead and the Black Swan, but ask about the circular walking route that Tommy’s dad drew.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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Meanwhile, Donnie has made his way to a big, circular room within the mansion where several men are participating in orgy events.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuitous. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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