English Meaning & Definitions
(Of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way; indirect and roundabout.
- “The taxi driver took a circuitous route to avoid the morning traffic, much to our annoyance.”
- “After several circuitous turns, we finally arrived at the hidden village.”
(Of a statement or argument) indirect, lengthy, and often confusing.
- “Her explanation was so circuitous that I struggled to understand the main point she was trying to make.”
- “The politician's circuitous answer failed to address the core question directly.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “circuitous”.
From Latin *circuitus* ('a going around, a circuit'), past participle of *circuire* ('to go around'), from *circum* ('around') + *ire* ('to go'). The English suffix '-ous' was added to form the adjective.
Think of a 'circuit' or 'circle' – a circuitous path goes around in a circle or takes a long, indirect way, rather than a straight line.
Frequently Asked Questions About “circuitous”
1. What is the meaning of “circuitous” in English?
In English, circuitous (adjective) is defined as: “(Of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way; indirect and roundabout.”.
2. How do you use “circuitous” in a sentence?
“The taxi driver took a circuitous route to avoid the morning traffic, much to our annoyance.”
3. What are English synonyms of “circuitous”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “circuitous”?
From Latin *circuitus* ('a going around, a circuit'), past participle of *circuire* ('to go around'), from *circum* ('around') + *ire* ('to go'). The English suffix '-ous' was added to form the adjective.
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