circular 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsər-kyə-lər How to pronounce circular (audio)
Definition of circularnext
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

circular

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of circular
Adjective
Like other firs, the needlelike leaves of the oyamel fir grow directly from the branch, and the needles’ bases, which are shaped like suction cups, leave conspicuous circular scars when the leaves fall. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 Quarry Park Adventures’ via ferrata climbing route features iron rungs, tightrope cables and wooden boards along the walls of the circular quarry. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
Canada’s largest lender also plans to increase annual compensation for its board directors by 22% to C$415,000 per year following a review by an external consultant, Royal Bank said in its annual proxy circular, filed Thursday. — Christine Dobby, Bloomberg, 5 Mar. 2026 Look for items on sale via the weekly store circular. — Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for circular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circular
  1. roundabout
  2. booklet
  3. indirect
  4. brochure
  5. leaflet
  6. folder
  7. flyer
  8. pamphlet
Adjective
  • Google’s statement is essentially a roundabout way of confirming that Workspace and Photos data may inform ads.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In a roundabout fashion, Fielder and Oppenheim became the filmmakers charged with the task.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of roundabout
Noun
  • The quick start guide is helpful for getting the microwave ready to use, while a more extensive booklet provides the nitty-gritty details on settings and modes like the sophisticated sensor-reheating functions (more on that later).
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
  • This box set appears to contain EVERYTHING Hank ever recorded along with a killer booklet of photos, etc.
    — Liza Lentini, SPIN, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of booklet
Adjective
  • If tiny primordial black holes can split, their potential signatures might offer an indirect way to investigate the process.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • In an indirect prompt injection, an attacker hides instructions in content an AI agent will come across while doing a task—a web page or a forum post, for instance—hoping to hijack the agent.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of indirect
Noun
  • However, the only real changes in these places would be in marketing – the signs, brochures and merchandise sold in gift shops.
    — Seth T. Kannarr, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The Dutch Boy brand grew so popular with homeowners that the company published a poetic picture-book brochure near the end of World War I to celebrate the benefits of its paints.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of brochure
Noun
  • Melanie Folwell, the executive director of Idahoans United for Women and Families, the organization that got Prop 1 on the ballot, shared with the Statesman examples of signs and leaflets opposing Prop 1 that did not disclose who paid for them.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026
  • By the mid-1990s, the group had also become involved in anti-Castro political activity, including dropping pro-democracy leaflets over Cuba.
    — Landon Mion , Lorraine Taylor, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of leaflet
Noun
  • If the site attempted a download, check your device's Downloads folder without opening the file.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Users can also merge or split PDFs, add page numbers and watermarks, and organize documents into folders.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of folder
Noun
  • Police said the individuals approached diners and placed flyers or newspapers over their wallets, purses or cellphones while engaging them in conversation.
    — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Regent figures its unique flier has another advantage over eVTOLs.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of flyer
Noun
  • Once, leafing through a typographical pamphlet by the Soviet graphic artist Farsovsky, Ellendea spotted a drawing of an old-fashioned carriage and a horseman.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The pamphlet includes information on topics ranging from gender identity to what students can do if their parents do not support them.
    — Brian New, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of pamphlet

Browse Nearby Words

circuity
circular
circularities
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Circular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circular. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All