indirect
Taking the scenic route
Indirect means not straight or direct—taking a roundabout path to reach a destination or conclusion.
An indirect route avoids the most direct way.
Indirect lighting bounces off surfaces rather than shining straight.
An indirect answer avoids addressing the question head-on.
Indirect costs aren't tied to specific products but support operations generally.
To speak indirectly is to hint or imply rather than state plainly.
Idea proposed for consideration
- hintIndirect suggestion
- allusionIndirect reference to something
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
- implicationIndirect suggestion or consequence
inference · innuendo · intimation · subtext · undercurrent · undertone · nuance · connotation
Circular junction for traffic
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
- tortuousFull of twists
convoluted · labyrinthine · zigzag · snaking · twisting · sinuous · curving · spiral
Alternate path around obstruction
- bypassRoute that skirts obstacles
- diversionRedirection of attention
- alternateOccur in succession
- scenicOffering beautiful views
backroad · byway · shortcut · workaround · side · reroute · deviation · switchback
Lesser in rank
- consequentialHaving significant effects
- collateralSecurity for debt
- rippleMinor surface disturbance
- downstreamAlong the current's path
knock-on · spillover · side-effect · byproduct · mediated · peripheral · tangential · removed
Unclear, ill-defined
- ambiguousHaving multiple interpretations
- elusiveHard to find
- equivocalUncertain in meaning
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
cagey · dodgy · shifty · slippery · unforthcoming · misleading · prevaricating · hedging
Socially sensitive and careful
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- backchannelUnofficial communication pathway
intermediary · proxy · liaison · go-between · envoy · third-party · middleman · broker
suggestion
Idea proposed for consideration
- hintIndirect suggestion
- allusionIndirect reference to something
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
implication · inference · innuendo · intimation · subtext · undercurrent · undertone · nuance · connotation · veiled
roundabout
Circular junction for traffic
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
tortuous · convoluted · labyrinthine · zigzag · snaking · twisting · sinuous · curving · spiral · looping
detour
Alternate path around obstruction
scenic · backroad · byway · shortcut · workaround · side · reroute · deviation · switchback · meander
secondary
Lesser in rank
- consequentialHaving significant effects
- collateralSecurity for debt
- rippleMinor surface disturbance
downstream · knock-on · spillover · side-effect · byproduct · mediated · peripheral · tangential · removed · domino
vague
Unclear, ill-defined
noncommittal · cagey · dodgy · shifty · slippery · unforthcoming · misleading · prevaricating · hedging · sidestepping
tactful
Socially sensitive and careful
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
backchannel · intermediary · proxy · liaison · go-between · envoy · third-party · middleman · broker · delegate
- euphemistictactful, polite, mild, delicate, softened
- speaking stylesarticulate, blunt, candid, conversational, casual
- confrontation styleaggressive, passive, assertive, avoidant, diplomatic
- digressionsdigression, tangent, aside, sidetrack, detour
- addressing modesimmediate, indexed, relative, register, implicit
- approachesapproach, approaches, method, methods, way
indirectdirect
Undeviating or to guide
straight · undeviating · nonstop · unswerving · beeline
indirectdirect
Undeviating or to guide
frank · straightforward · candid · forthright · blunt
- indirect evidenceProof needing inference
- indirect lightIllumination via reflection
- indirect lightingReflected, scattered illumination
- indirect costsExpenses not directly attributable
- indirect proofReasoning via contradiction
- bright indirect light
indirectly, indirect costs, indirection, indirectness, indirect object, indirect tax, indirect speech