circuitous
Taking the scenic route
Circuitous describes a route or method that is indirect or roundabout rather than straight: We took a circuitous path through the woods.
The word often carries a hint of unnecessary complexity or deliberate evasion: His circuitous explanation only raised more suspicions.
A circuitous journey covers more ground than needed to reach the destination.
Curving in repeated bends
- sinuousCurving in flowing turns
- twistingRotating with distortion
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
- curvingBending in arc
snaking · coiling · spiral · labyrinthine · tortuous · zigzag · convoluted · looping
Avoiding direct response
- indirectNot straight or immediate
- obliqueAngled, not straightforward
- tangentialBarely connected to main point
- digressiveTending to stray topically
periphrastic · rambling · verbose · longwinded · circumlocutory · elliptical · allusive · equivocal
Excessively complex or twisted
- tortuousFull of twists
- indirectNot straight or immediate
- complexHaving many interconnected parts
- elaborateComplex and detailed
Byzantine · labyrinthine · intricate · tangled · twisted · obtuse · obscure · opaque
Alternate path around obstruction
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
- indirectNot straight or immediate
- roundaboutCircular junction for traffic
- scenicOffering beautiful views
alternate · longer · backroads · diversion · shortcut · wayward · meandering · rambling
serpentine
Curving in repeated bends
- sinuousCurving in flowing turns
- twistingRotating with distortion
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
curving · snaking · coiling · spiral · labyrinthine · tortuous · zigzag · convoluted · looping · curved
evasive
Avoiding direct response
- indirectNot straight or immediate
- obliqueAngled, not straightforward
- tangentialBarely connected to main point
digressive · periphrastic · rambling · verbose · longwinded · circumlocutory · elliptical · allusive · equivocal · hedging
convoluted
Excessively complex or twisted
elaborate · Byzantine · labyrinthine · intricate · tangled · twisted · obtuse · obscure · opaque · arcane
detour
Alternate path around obstruction
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
- indirectNot straight or immediate
- roundaboutCircular junction for traffic
scenic · alternate · longer · backroads · diversion · shortcut · wayward · meandering · rambling · wandering
roundabout
Circular junction for traffic
- rotaryInvolving circular motion
- interchangeReciprocal transfer between parties
- junctionPoint where things meet
bypass · loop · cloverleaf · overpass · ramp · exit · merge · detour · diversion · intersection
- indirecthint, detour, roundabout, evasive, veiled
- circumlocutioncircumlocution, indirection, indirectness, roundabout, roundaboutness
- path conditionsmuddy, rocky, icy, slippery, wet
- spiralsspiral, helix, logarithmic spiral, coil, whorl
- complexitycomplex, complicated, simple, intricate, easy
circuitousdirect
Undeviating or to guide
straight · beeline · linear · shortest · undeviating
circuitousdirect
Undeviating or to guide
straightforward · blunt · forthright · frank · plain
circuitousdirect
Undeviating or to guide
straightforward · linear · efficient · streamlined · logical