as in rambling
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea
the studio's statement that "the film's earnings did not live up to expectations" was a circumlocutory admission that the movie was a flop
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumlocutory
Adjective
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Mardi is a rambling story, and reviewers were not kind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026 -
The rambling, low-slung building, containing 200 rooms, including 36 suites, is easy to get lost in.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Even the blandest overtures can whip him into a frantic, pornographic, prolix ecstasy.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2026
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Ronald, who with his shock of white hair and prolix tendencies comes off like a frazzled professor, keeps to a more limited circuit writing out of his house and his office.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Donovan is talkative, bubbly and outgoing, while Juan is more of a listener.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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The fourth graders were talkative, but focused.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 bears his recognizable fast-paced, verbose style and features an almost impossibly starry ensemble cast.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Apr. 2026
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Today hosts a gentle Moon-Chiron trine, empowering your friendly 11th house and your verbose 3rd house.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Nathan learned about the fate of a great-aunt, who was confined at Theresienstadt, and her grandson, who by a circuitous, ultimately tragic path is remembered by Catholics as a martyr.—
Jackie Hajdenberg,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
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Travel through the area can get circuitous for drivers as so many area streets are one-way and the area is heavily used by pedestrians.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Tontey’s Karamoy becomes literally larger than life, with three breasts and exaggerated muscles, a physical manifestation of her will toward self-determination.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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The exaggerated use of black in this trendy backyard by Allweather Landscape gives the space a super modern and moody look.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Legal opinions tend to be dry, wordy, and intentionally vague.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
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Conrad is full of wordy comic dialogue that often sings in its idiosyncrasy but also elicits little more than a chuckle.—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Circumlocutory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circumlocutory. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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