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.

However, it may be the indirect consequences of higher oil prices that hit the U.S. economy the hardest.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

The industry at Morbi provides direct and indirect employment to nearly a million people, according to government statistics.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Pakistan said the U.S. and Iran were engaged in indirect talks through messages it was relaying, and that Tehran was considering Washington’s proposals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

There is indirect contact and channels between the two sides - but a deal may still be a long way off.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The referee was right: Plutarch’s experience was an indirect experience, just as Aristotle’s phenomena were based on other people’s experiences; Garzoni’s and della Porta’s experiences were based on real, personally performed tests.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

indirect

Example Sentences

Related Words