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.

This kind of indirect observation is not new.

From Science Daily • May 26, 2026

The indirect effect comes as those costs spread through transportation, manufacturing and goods prices.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

This has a direct effect on global prices and an indirect effect on a host of industries, including agriculture and plastics production.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

There are also indirect effects as insurers drop customers in hurricane-prone areas or withdraw from states.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

This again was never put into plain words, but in an indirect way it was rubbed into every Party member ffom childhood onwards.

From "1984" by George Orwell

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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