circuitous

[ser-kyoo-i-tuhs]

See more synonyms for circuitous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

roundabout; not direct: a circuitous route; a circuitous argument.

Origin of circuitous

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

Related formscir·cu·i·tous·ly, adverbcir·cu·i·tous·ness, nounnon·cir·cu·i·tous, adjectivenon·cir·cu·i·tous·ly, adverbnon·cir·cu·i·tous·ness, nounun·cir·cu·i·tous, adjectiveun·cir·cu·i·tous·ly, adverbun·cir·cu·i·tous·ness, noun

Synonyms

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circular, winding, indirect, meandering.

Antonyms

straight, direct.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for circuitous

Contemporary Examples

It seems like you took a circuitous route, rather than coming up through some agency.
Anastasia Ashley, Surfer-Cum-Model, Rides The Viral Internet Wave
James Joiner
December 23, 2014
They were flawed and beautiful men in circuitous search of redemption, and Newman wore the characters effortlessly.
The Stacks: The Eyes of Winter: Paul Newman at 70
Peter Richmond
October 11, 2014
There was nothing new, or even objectionable, in the speech, which took a circuitous historical route to its subject.
It’s the Wages, Stupid
Daniel Gross
December 4, 2013
But a Palestinian from the West Bank would need to travel all the way around on a circuitous route.
Israel Discourages Journalists From Visiting West Bank
Ali Gharib
March 18, 2013
The circuitous route that Lincoln claimed, via the Great Lakes, was actually the one best suited for passenger travel in the era.
Santorum’s Audi and Other Political Transportation Follies
Ben Jacobs
February 18, 2012

Historical Examples

Taking a circuitous route, he at last reached a sort of little inn.
A Nest of Spies
Pierre Souvestre
Henry led the horse round by a circuitous way back to the path.
Rollo in Switzerland
Jacob Abbott
It seems a circuitous way; but it may prove a way nevertheless.
Past and Present
Thomas Carlyle
The lateness of the hour compelled her to take a circuitous route to London.
Lover or Friend
Rosa Nouchette Carey
The ledge could only be reached by a circuitous route three miles away.
The Three Partners
Bret Harte

British Dictionary definitions for circuitous

circuitous

adjective

indirect and lengthy; roundabouta circuitous route

Derived Formscircuitously, adverbcircuitousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for circuitous

adj.

1660s, from Medieval Latin circuitous "full of roundabout ways," from Latin circuitus "a going round" (see circuit (n.)). Related: Circuitously; circuitousness.

circuitous

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}circuitous

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for circuitous

Contemporary Examples

It seems like you took a circuitous route, rather than coming up through some agency.

They were flawed and beautiful men in circuitous search of redemption, and Newman wore the characters effortlessly.

There was nothing new, or even objectionable, in the speech, which took a circuitous historical route to its subject.

But a Palestinian from the West Bank would need to travel all the way around on a circuitous route.

The circuitous route that Lincoln claimed, via the Great Lakes, was actually the one best suited for passenger travel in the era.

Historical Examples

Taking a circuitous route, he at last reached a sort of little inn.

Henry led the horse round by a circuitous way back to the path.

It seems a circuitous way; but it may prove a way nevertheless.

The lateness of the hour compelled her to take a circuitous route to London.

The ledge could only be reached by a circuitous route three miles away.

circuitous

Word Origin and History for circuitous

adj.

Origin of circuitous