indirectly
In roundabout fashion
Indirectly means by a route that isn't straight or immediate.
You can travel indirectly, taking a longer path: We drove indirectly through the mountains.
More often the word describes causation or communication that works through intermediaries: The policy indirectly raised prices, She was indirectly criticizing my work.
Something learned indirectly comes secondhand rather than from the source.
Circular junction for traffic
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- tortuousFull of twists
devious · circuitous · obliquely · periphrastic · backhandedly · secondhand · vicariously · derivatively
By subtle reference
- insinuatinglyWith indirect suggestion
- suggestivelyIn an implying manner
- covertlyDone without detection
- veiledConcealed or obscured
subtly · obliquely · elliptically · cryptically · euphemistically · guardedly · evasively · cagily
In a marginal way
- incidentallyIntroducing a tangent
- secondarilyIn secondary importance
- collaterallyAs secondary consequence
- laterallyToward either side
tangentially · adjacently · marginally · parenthetically · digressively
Without direct expression
- tacitlyWithout explicit statement
- suggestivelyIn an implying manner
- allusivelyBy subtle reference
- inferentiallyBy drawing conclusions
subtly · understood · unspoken · unstated · assumed · inferred · construed · unacknowledged
roundabout
Circular junction for traffic
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
tortuous · devious · circuitous · obliquely · periphrastic · backhandedly · secondhand · vicariously · derivatively · mediately
allusively
By subtle reference
- insinuatinglyWith indirect suggestion
- suggestivelyIn an implying manner
- covertlyDone without detection
veiled · subtly · obliquely · elliptically · cryptically · euphemistically · guardedly · evasively · cagily
peripherally
In a marginal way
- incidentallyIntroducing a tangent
- secondarilyIn secondary importance
- collaterallyAs secondary consequence
laterally · tangentially · adjacently · marginally · parenthetically · digressively
implicitly
Without direct expression
- tacitlyWithout explicit statement
- suggestivelyIn an implying manner
- allusivelyBy subtle reference
inferentially · subtly · understood · unspoken · unstated · assumed · inferred · construed · unacknowledged
- adverbsquickly, slowly, very, really, now
- mental adverbsmentally, cognitively, consciously, unconsciously, subconsciously
indirectlydirectly
Without intermediary steps
straight · straightaway · unswervingly · in a straight line · as the crow flies
indirectlydirectly
Without intermediary steps
straightforwardly · overtly · explicitly · bluntly · plainly
indirectlydirectly
Without intermediary steps
immediately · firsthand · primarily · proximately · personally
- indirect evidenceProof needing inference
- indirect lightIllumination via reflection
- indirect lightingReflected, scattered illumination
- indirect costsExpenses not directly attributable
- indirect proofReasoning via contradiction
- bright indirect light