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
Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
The brand said the shoe can be disassembled at the end of its life, with the knit, cords, footbed and sole separating cleanly to support circular end-of-life pathways.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
Christopher Tremoglie, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
Though Gaudí’s fund-raising circular had specified the cross’s appearance, and the model in the warehouse had survived, how to actually build it and which materials to use had been up to Faulí and his team.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circular
Adjective
Lone Stars sweating in hands, couples moving in confident, circular patterns as if they were born knowing when to turn.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
The brand said the shoe can be disassembled at the end of its life, with the knit, cords, footbed and sole separating cleanly to support circular end-of-life pathways.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
The circular included a QR code to scan for those interested in joining.
—Christopher Tremoglie, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
Though Gaudí’s fund-raising circular had specified the cross’s appearance, and the model in the warehouse had survived, how to actually build it and which materials to use had been up to Faulí and his team.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circular
Adjective
-
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
-
Police identified the man as a drug dealer in a roundabout way.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Also included will be cover art featuring a work by Mark Rothko and a booklet including an essay from Rothenberg.—
Sam Byrd,
Houston Chronicle,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In addition to buying and assembling the new bikes to fit each student, Lions and volunteers also gave each student a bike lock, a safety instruction booklet, a tire pump, and a helmet.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
The building’s remaining retail tenants and 134 parking spaces bring in around $750,000 of income each year, according to a Cushman & Wakefield sales brochure prepared for the initial listing.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The marketing brochure states that one of the buildings could be ideal for an owner-user.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Most heart defects are benign, Franklin said, such as a patent foramen ovale (a tiny flap in the top chamber), or bicuspid aortic valve (a fusion of the aortic valve leaflets).—
Elizabeth Cooney,
STAT,
2 Feb. 2026
-
The barefoot one darts forward and drops a wet leaflet into one of your shopping bags.—
Molly Aitken,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Agents are sandboxed and limited to specific folders or branches, with permission required for elevated actions such as network access.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In creator group chats and Discords, screenshots of home screens show TikTok pushed into a side folder while UpScrolled moves to the dock.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The incident occurred just hours before dozens of flyers depicting former Prince Andrew were briefly scattered around the village of Dedham ahead of the royal visit, The Times reported.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
These hardside suitcases have earned stamps of approval from travel editors and frequent fliers for their longevity and ability to withstand rough handling—and prices start at $80.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The group passed out pamphlets for the Iran Novin Party, a conservative political party that was established in 2023.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Fewer than 10 took pamphlets or Qurans.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circular. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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