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
Thousands of indirect jobs could also follow across the country.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
2 July 2026
Prepare a grill for medium-high indirect heat (for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off; for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side); lightly oil grate with vegetable oil.
—
Inés Anguiano,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 July 2026
The future of Hormuz is hanging over indirect talks in Qatar this week — US officials are making the case that Iran would gain more from a nuclear deal than tolls in the strait.
—
J.d. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
1 July 2026
These $15,000 to $50,000 trades gave him indirect exposure to Bitcoin.
—
Camila Grigera Naón,
Fortune,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for indirect
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
2 July 2026
Prepare a grill for medium-high indirect heat (for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off; for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side); lightly oil grate with vegetable oil.
—
Inés Anguiano,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 July 2026
The future of Hormuz is hanging over indirect talks in Qatar this week — US officials are making the case that Iran would gain more from a nuclear deal than tolls in the strait.
—
J.d. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
1 July 2026
These $15,000 to $50,000 trades gave him indirect exposure to Bitcoin.
—
Camila Grigera Naón,
Fortune,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for indirect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indirect
Adjective
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His unwillingness to back Hilton drew a roundabout rebuke from California Republican Party Chair Corrin Rankin.
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And that, in a roundabout way, was the point.
Adjective
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Wipe in circular motions with a lint-free microfiber cloth to loosen grime, then finish with long, horizontal swipes.
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The circular logic of it would be darkly comic if tens of thousands of livelihoods weren't caught in the middle.
Cite this Entry
“Indirect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indirect. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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