indirection

Examples

• All

• During negotiations, his use of indirection left everyone confused about his true intentions.

• Our monetary policy institutions are an important part of the indirection that envelops government redistributive programs.

  Academic text (1991)

• But, like many of the most important things in life, genuine beauty is achieved mainly by indirection.

  Academic text (1997)

• Civil association, then, requires a spirit of indirection that must be widely diffused.

  Academic text (1991)

• Thus, a government entity may decide, by indirection, what preventive services will and will not be available.

  Academic text (2017)

• The worst problem is that shortening services add another layer of indirection to an already creaky system.

  Blog text (19)

• Modern virtualization platforms exploit indirection and abstraction in numerous ways.

  Academic text (2012)

• The common theme is decoupling the logical from the physical, introducing a level of indirection between the abstract and the concrete.

  Academic text (2012)

• You know how Fujimori's ministers and their staff are masters of indirection and euphemism.

  Fiction book (1995)

• She preferred indirection in her approach to conflict, avoiding confrontation whenever possible.

Synonyms

R

runaround

vsindirection

• Informal

11 6.4

A series of answers or actions that delay help

is about not straightforward methods generally not only delaying tactics

E

equivocation

vsindirection

• Formal

9 9.9

Using unclear language to hide the truth and avoid giving a clear answer

is broader and includes methods beyond deliberate misleading speech

E

evasion

vsindirection

6 6.6

An indirect statement that hides an unpleasant truth

is more general, covering not straightforward methods beyond single statements

E

evasiveness

vsindirection

3 7.4

Avoiding giving a direct answer so people do not know what you really think

is the general practice of choosing not straightforward methods instead

C

circumlocution

vsindirection

1 9.2

Using many words to avoid saying something directly

is about not straightforward methods rather than only wordy speech

I

indirectness

vsindirection

1 6.1

Not saying something clearly to avoid offending someone or to hide the real meaning

is about actively using not straightforward methods to avoid openness or truth

I

indirect expression

vsindirection

1 6.4

A way of telling someone something without saying it directly

is often a tactic used to avoid straightforwardness or openness

A

allusiveness

vsindirection

1 9.1

A quality of suggesting other ideas without saying them directly

is more about avoiding clear answers rather than simply hinting at things

O

obliqueness

vsindirection

1 8.9

Not saying things in a direct, clear way

is similar but focuses more on using such methods to avoid plain openness

C

circuitousness

vsindirection

1 9.2

Being indirect and not easy to follow

is broader, applying to various tactics chosen instead of simple direct action

C

circumambulation

vsindirection

• Formal

1 9.9

Talking in a roundabout way to avoid the main point

is broader than only avoiding the main point, covering many not straightforward tactics

Antonyms

D

directness

7 3.4

Honest, clear words and actions that say exactly what you mean

S

straightforwardness

1 5.0

Being direct and honest without hiding what you think

How Indirect

deviousness

2 7.0

evasiveness

3 7.4

indirection

2 8.8

directness

7 3.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology