as in roundabout
not straightforward or direct
a rather circular discussion of the problem that never addresses it directly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in booklet
a short printed publication with no cover or with a paper cover
promptly tosses out those advertising circulars that come in the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circular
New Atlas, 11 May 2026
Moreover, the tax court held that the premium payments were a circular transaction that did little more than funneled those payments right back to the taxpayer.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Dec. 2025
The circular included a QR code to scan for those interested in joining.
—Christopher Tremoglie, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circular
Adjective
The new 883 Sportster appears to retain the Iron’s low handlebars, mid controls, and circular air-filter cover.
—New Atlas, 11 May 2026
Moreover, the tax court held that the premium payments were a circular transaction that did little more than funneled those payments right back to the taxpayer.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Noun
The Tennessean looked at weekly circulars from more than a dozen stores, including Middle Tennessee staples like Aldi, Dollar General, BJ's Wholesale Club.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Dec. 2025
The circular included a QR code to scan for those interested in joining.
—Christopher Tremoglie, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circular
Adjective
-
Which is, in a roundabout way, how Colicchio ended up an investor in 30 companies.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
-
Turn east onto McLeod, go right at the roundabout, turn left on Howell Road and make a right on Kirsten Road.—
Noah Daly
Updated May 12,
Idaho Statesman,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
The bound paper booklets in which students hand-write their responses to test questions have surged in popularity during the AI explosion.—
Jamil Zaki,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
-
The county also sends out a Voter Information Guide, a paper booklet with all the relevant information about the election, as well as candidate statements specifically for the districts each voter resides in.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Across industries, indirect goods and services can represent 10% to 20% of revenue.—
David Pennino,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Use indirect heat and keep the ribs covered to prevent them from drying out.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Since then, the school’s social work and human services program has used the money to hire an instructional assistant, create brochures, update learning material for students and host community information sessions, professor Brandy Jones-Thomas said.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
-
The second is to treat their website as a decision-making tool rather than just a digital brochure.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
To identify the plant, Kaufmann recommends looking for a notch or lobe that is sometimes found on one side of the oblong leaflets with smooth margins.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
8 May 2026
-
Carroll Rivas added that decreases of nonviolent incidents in the audit appear in part attributed to fewer in-person events, leaflet or flyer distributions or other gatherings, particularly among white nationalists and neo-Nazis.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Online documentation of this folder is hard to find.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
14 May 2026
-
DeVaux reaches down beneath her seat and grabs a black folder.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Other upfront frequent fliers included Tina Fey and Shaquille O’Neal.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
President of the Laburt Improvement Community Association, Janet Bailey handed out flyers in the community after Brooks in an effort to raise awareness abut local behavioral health services.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Some of these digital pamphlets provide terse, functional updates while others act as the successors to bygone alt-weeklies, covering cultural happenings and carrying out local-interest investigations.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Use of pamphlets in a Q&A format would go a long way in explaining and helping the public navigate the complex assessment process.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circular. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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