circuitous

[ser-kyoo-i-tuhs]

adjective

1. roundabout; not direct.

   a circuitous route; a circuitous argument.

   Synonyms: indirect, winding, circular
   Antonyms: direct, straight

circuitous

/ səˈkjuːɪtəs /

adjective

1. indirect and lengthy; roundabout

   a circuitous route

Other Word Forms

• circuitously adverb
• circuitousness noun
• noncircuitous adjective
• noncircuitously adverb
• noncircuitousness noun
• uncircuitous adjective
• uncircuitously adverb
• uncircuitousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of circuitous¹

1655–65; < Medieval Latin circuitōsus, equivalent to circuit ( us ) circuit + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

They were the culmination of a typically circuitous series of reflections by the American president on the happenings in China over the past several days.

From BBC

Tracking maps produced by local experts show swirling masses of Shahed drones, sometimes taking circuitous routes across Ukraine before homing in on their targets.

From BBC

After nine hours, the exhausted guardsmen arrived in Sacramento early on the morning of July 4 — having taken a train through a circuitous route to avoid trouble.

From Los Angeles Times

The criticism of Harris’ delayed decision, which is expected to come this summer, varies from sharp and direct to oblique and circuitous.

From Los Angeles Times

But the book’s circuitous, meandering structure, including a major digression about one of Siegfried’s sisters, tests the reader’s patience.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• devious 
• labyrinthine 
• meandering 
• rambling 
• tortuous