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.

The order also prevented him from having any direct or indirect dealings with a number of other boats run by his company.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

My first indirect encounter with a Boy Mom happened via a Facebook post from a mother with an important message for the teen girls of social media.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

This kind of indirect observation is not new.

From Science Daily • May 26, 2026

The coffers have their own rhythm; indirect lighting turns the hollows into shadow gradients.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

They were involute, introvert, indirect; they did not like questions and answers.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

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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