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
Several highways connecting the capital to the provinces have been damaged by floods and landslides, forcing travelers to take long, circuitous routes to reach Kabul, Public Works Ministry spokesman Ashraf Haqshinas said Saturday.
—
Abdul Qahar Afghan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
When asked if this characterization is correct, Griffin effectively answered yes, in a circuitous fashion.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of new lawsuits, led by Hursh, will follow the circuitous path left by Nida.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Mar. 2026
To avoid closed or hazardous airspace, airlines are suspending routes or redrawing flight maps, sometimes following a more circuitous path.
—Andrea Sachs The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Abdul Qahar Afghan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
When asked if this characterization is correct, Griffin effectively answered yes, in a circuitous fashion.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of new lawsuits, led by Hursh, will follow the circuitous path left by Nida.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Mar. 2026
To avoid closed or hazardous airspace, airlines are suspending routes or redrawing flight maps, sometimes following a more circuitous path.
—Andrea Sachs The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuitous
Adjective
-
Starting an expensive professional golf league was a roundabout way to launder the reputation of a violent autocrat.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
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While looking for the vehicle in the roundabout nearby, the officer noticed the BMW was in a canal on the north side of Loxahatchee Road.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Despite this rambling semi-introduction, Newman’s film makes quick work of all of this, recognizing that getting to the Tova-and-Cameron show (with, of course, many guest appearances by Marcellus) is the entire point of the picture.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
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Mardi is a rambling story, and reviewers were not kind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Early Saturday morning, the discount airline ceased operations immediately and canceled all flights, leaving passengers stranded and most of its 17,000 direct and indirect employees without jobs.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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Spirit said some 17,000 people, both direct and indirect airline workers, lost their jobs in the airline's collapse.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Even the blandest overtures can whip him into a frantic, pornographic, prolix ecstasy.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2026
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Ronald, who with his shock of white hair and prolix tendencies comes off like a frazzled professor, keeps to a more limited circuit writing out of his house and his office.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Rather than grouping artists around a theme, curator Miguel Rodez invited each participant to work within the circular format while maintaining their own visual language.—
Miguel Sirgado,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
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The shoes went with her couture Maison Margiela dress, which was jewel-embellished and featured a crinkly circular feature framing her.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuitous. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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