indirect

[in-duh-rekt, -dahy-] / ˌɪn dəˈrɛkt, -daɪ- /

ADJECTIVE

roundabout; unintended

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ambiguous ancillary circuitous implied incidental oblique tortuous

STRONG

collateral

WEAK

circular circumlocutory complicated contingent crooked devious discursive duplicitous erratic eventual long long way home long-drawn-out long-winded meandering obscure out-of-the-way periphrastic rambling secondary serpentine sidelong sinister sinuous snaking sneaking sneaky subsidiary twisting underhand vagrant wandering winding zigzag

Antonyms

STRONGEST

direct straight straightforward

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

CPI captures just out-of-pocket spending by households, while the PCE also includes indirect spending like employer-paid health care or government health programs.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

Researchers relied on indirect techniques that could reveal a planet's mass, size, or sometimes both.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

All in all, there is a great deal to be said for indirect taxes—for sales taxes, for value-added taxes and, yes, for tariffs as well.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Efforts to establish negotiations have been ongoing since a ceasefire agreement in November 2024, with US envoys previously mediating indirect talks between the two sides.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

"Or by inaction, or indirect action, allow harm to come to me or my companion."

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

Vocabulary lists containing indirect

Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

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Geography and World Regions

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Workshop 2, Part 2

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