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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of circuitous
The book’s circuitous path to publication is at least part of the reason for this.
—
Adelle Waldman, New Yorker, 31 May 2025
From ancient remedies to your Amazon cart, mushroom supplements have traveled a circuitous road.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 28 May 2025
The 27-year-old has taken the circuitous route to football’s top table, but has developed into one of Europe’s premier forwards.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Perhaps as a result of his circuitous journey into the profession, Wei is well aware of the obstacles on the road to becoming a CPA—and has devoted himself to helping others find their way to the field.
—Steel Rose, Cpa, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Adelle Waldman, New Yorker, 31 May 2025
From ancient remedies to your Amazon cart, mushroom supplements have traveled a circuitous road.
—Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 28 May 2025
The 27-year-old has taken the circuitous route to football’s top table, but has developed into one of Europe’s premier forwards.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Perhaps as a result of his circuitous journey into the profession, Wei is well aware of the obstacles on the road to becoming a CPA—and has devoted himself to helping others find their way to the field.
—Steel Rose, Cpa, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circuitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circuitous
Adjective
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But maybe ditching emulsifiers could act as some roundabout way of nudging Americans toward eating healthier, if Kennedy is prepared to rob us all of ice cream.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
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Mello got the role in a roundabout way, after his mom brought him to an open casting call with the intention of having his older brothers audition.—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Refine your key points to be clear and concise—no rambling monologues.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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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
Adjective
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But the indirect benefits seem to reflect a posture against green energy, related to unbelief in climate change, and these lead to support for inefficient energy alternatives like nuclear and geothermal and gas-fired turbines.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Anticipated after 72 hours: Summit; Depending on success of indirect fireline, the fire may be mostly contained.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
13 July 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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Similar to many other automatic litter box models, the circular orb rotates, sifting dirty litter into a waste bag, which on this model is on top of the machine rather than below.—
WIRED,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
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Glass has also become a big part of the circular economy.—
LEW SICHELMAN,
Miami Herald,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Circuitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circuitous. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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