ROUNDABOUT Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

roundabout 1 of 2

adjective

ˈrau̇n-də-ˌbau̇t

Definition of roundabout

as in indirect

not straightforward or direct took a roundabout route to the beach

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

roundabout

2 of 2

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 roundabout

Adjective

In an 2008 interview with The Times, Mitte and his family detailed how his acting career developed in a roundabout way. — Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 Given that each Nvidia GB300 NVL72 enterprise rack contains 72 Blackwell chips and retails at roughly $3 million a pop, depending on configuration, that means Le Chonk cost roundabout $160 million in hardware—nevermind the electricity bill. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

Even among the worldliest of us, an unexpected roundabout can trigger a fireworks-and-bald-eagles display of patriotic rage. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026 It is slated to be built in Memorial Circle, a roundabout near the main entrance to the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for roundabout

Recent Examples of Synonyms for roundabout

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

The first jerseys of the local soccer team featured a light-bulb emblem, and graffiti light bulbs are still spray-painted on the city’s underpass walls.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
This is what the underpass looked like when Joshua Service was done cleaning it.

— Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of underpass

Adjective

The incident was largely forgotten until the last few days, when a farmer in rural Minnesota discovered a circular metal object about 11 feet in diameter lay amid the forest of corn stalks.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
The ongoing discussion around circular VAT in the EU is a potential opportunity.

— Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of circular

Noun

This includes small angled drills that will fit in spaces no ordinary drill can reach as well as massively powerful SDS rotary hammers and demolition drills.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
The property also retains several period details, including a hanging globe light and a red rotary telephone mounted on a kitchen wall.

— David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of rotary

Adjective

Every floor and room is dedicated to specific watch brands and timepieces, featuring bespoke details like watch-hand door handles and winding-crown faucet handles, all crafted by Florentine artisans.

— Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
As such, the show takes you on a winding journey of France’s influential craftsmanship and its impact on America via archival looks, dazzling objects, and more modern creations.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 29 May 2026

Definition of winding

Noun

The arch would be built in the middle of a traffic circle tucked inside Washington's boundaries near Arlington National Cemetery.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
Storing explosive ammunition and stationing snipers in the middle of a busy traffic circle close to other, more secure military locations, including the Pentagon, strikes many observers as simultaneously dangerous and ridiculous.

— Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of traffic circle

Noun

As construction of the new State Highway 16 and I-84 interchange continues, the department said drivers should expect nighttime lane restrictions in both directions.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2026
Interstate 280 Lane Reductions Along with the 101 closures, the agency is performing road work on northbound Interstate 280 between Mariposa Street and the 280/101 interchange during overnight hours.

— Tim Fang, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of interchange

Browse Nearby Words

round

roundabout

roundabouts

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Roundabout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/roundabout. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of roundabout

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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