Circuitous
adjective
Not straight, short, or direct. An indirect or roundabout way.
Instead of going straight to the topic, his speech was more circuitous than a maze.
Often appears as...
- circuitous route
- circuitous method
adjective
Not straight, short, or direct. An indirect or roundabout way.
Instead of going straight to the topic, his speech was more circuitous than a maze.
Often appears as...
- circuitous route
- circuitous method
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Avoid in Simplicity
Use 'circuitous' when simplicity isn't the goal and complexity is expected or required in the explanation or route.
His instructions were unnecessarily circuitous for such a simple task.
Pro Tip 2/3Extended Conversations
'Circuitous' is often used when someone takes a long time to get to the point in a conversation.
During the debate, her circuitous answers frustrated the audience.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Sometimes 'circuitous' can describe a positive and strategic approach rather than a purely inefficient one.
The lawyer took a circuitous approach to reveal the unexpected evidence.
Pro Tip 1/3Avoid in Simplicity
Use 'circuitous' when simplicity isn't the goal and complexity is expected or required in the explanation or route.
His instructions were unnecessarily circuitous for such a simple task.
Pro Tip 2/3Extended Conversations
'Circuitous' is often used when someone takes a long time to get to the point in a conversation.
During the debate, her circuitous answers frustrated the audience.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Sometimes 'circuitous' can describe a positive and strategic approach rather than a purely inefficient one.
The lawyer took a circuitous approach to reveal the unexpected evidence.
Pro Tip 1/3Avoid in Simplicity
Use 'circuitous' when simplicity isn't the goal and complexity is expected or required in the explanation or route.
His instructions were unnecessarily circuitous for such a simple task.
Pro Tip 2/3Extended Conversations
'Circuitous' is often used when someone takes a long time to get to the point in a conversation.
During the debate, her circuitous answers frustrated the audience.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Negative
Sometimes 'circuitous' can describe a positive and strategic approach rather than a purely inefficient one.
The lawyer took a circuitous approach to reveal the unexpected evidence.
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Video examples
Thom Mayne: Architecture...
that I think the creative process in architecture, the design process, is extremely circuitous. It's labyrinthine. It's Calvino's idea of the quickest way between two points is the circuitous line, not the straight line. And definitely my life has been part of that. I'm going to start with some simple kind of
Video examples
Thom Mayne: Architecture...
that I think the creative process in architecture, the design process, is extremely circuitous. It's labyrinthine. It's Calvino's idea of the quickest way between two points is the circuitous line, not the straight line. And definitely my life has been part of that. I'm going to start with some simple kind of
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Theodore Isaac Rubin
American Psychologist
Sometimes the routes leading to feelings of anger are so convoluted and circuitous that it takes enormous skill to discern their original source, or fountainhead. But regardless of the reason for or the source of the anger or the relative ease or complexity in perceiving either the anger or its source - everybody, but everybody, gets angry.
Quote examples
Conrad Anker
American Athlete
Once I graduated from university, I wanted to climb and be outdoors as much as possible. I worked as a part-time carpenter and kept up a relationship with The North Face. One thing led to another, and I'm lucky to be where I am now. It was a circuitous path with lots of adventure throughout.
Quote examples
David Whyte
English Poet
Things have a way of being richer in the end, a product better made, for the circuitous route we take to include all the elements that are necessary for a job well done.
Quote examples
Marc Randolph
American Businessman
It was a long, circuitous route from my mom's real estate business to Netflix. It didn't happen overnight. Or in a year. Or even in ten years. But it happened.
Quote examples
Carol Burnett
American Actress
We all get where we're going by circuitous journeys, and some of the setbacks are warranted.
Quote examples
David Grann
American Journalist
It was a very circuitous path. It was not very linear - I floundered about for many years.
Quote examples
Victoria Pratt
Canadian Actress
I came to acting in a very circuitous way.
Quote examples
Theodore Isaac Rubin
American Psychologist
Sometimes the routes leading to feelings of anger are so convoluted and circuitous that it takes enormous skill to discern their original source, or fountainhead. But regardless of the reason for or the source of the anger or the relative ease or complexity in perceiving either the anger or its source - everybody, but everybody, gets angry.
Quote examples
Conrad Anker
American Athlete
Once I graduated from university, I wanted to climb and be outdoors as much as possible. I worked as a part-time carpenter and kept up a relationship with The North Face. One thing led to another, and I'm lucky to be where I am now. It was a circuitous path with lots of adventure throughout.
Quote examples
David Whyte
English Poet
Things have a way of being richer in the end, a product better made, for the circuitous route we take to include all the elements that are necessary for a job well done.
Quote examples
Marc Randolph
American Businessman
It was a long, circuitous route from my mom's real estate business to Netflix. It didn't happen overnight. Or in a year. Or even in ten years. But it happened.
Quote examples
Carol Burnett
American Actress
We all get where we're going by circuitous journeys, and some of the setbacks are warranted.
Quote examples
David Grann
American Journalist
It was a very circuitous path. It was not very linear - I floundered about for many years.
Quote examples
Victoria Pratt
Canadian Actress
I came to acting in a very circuitous way.
Example 1 of 7
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