as in roundabout
not straightforward or direct
the cab driver took a very indirect route to the hotel a long-winded, indirect answer to a very simple question
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Recent Examples of indirect
Both Hamas and Israel have accepted a new ceasefire proposal and indirect negotiations on a deal have restarted, raising hopes that more could return home soon.
—
Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 7 July 2025
The first round of indirect talks ended without any progress on Sunday night, but it is understood that Qatari and Egyptian mediators will regroup to try again.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 July 2025
While Netanyahu traveled to Washington, a separate Israeli negotiating team went to Qatar on Sunday for indirect talks with Hamas.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 7 July 2025
The good news is that Anker is offering a free 10K Anker Power Bank as a replacement, or indirect refunds in the form of $30 gift card credits that can be used on the official Anker website.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for indirect
Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 7 July 2025
The first round of indirect talks ended without any progress on Sunday night, but it is understood that Qatari and Egyptian mediators will regroup to try again.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 7 July 2025
While Netanyahu traveled to Washington, a separate Israeli negotiating team went to Qatar on Sunday for indirect talks with Hamas.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 7 July 2025
The good news is that Anker is offering a free 10K Anker Power Bank as a replacement, or indirect refunds in the form of $30 gift card credits that can be used on the official Anker website.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for indirect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indirect
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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Glass has also become a big part of the circular economy.—
LEW SICHELMAN,
Miami Herald,
10 July 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Indirect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indirect. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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