Circular
Circular adjective - Not straightforward or direct.
Usage example: a rather circular discussion of the problem that never addresses it directly
Roundabout is a synonym for circular in straight topic. In some cases you can use "Roundabout" instead the word "Circular" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like round, circuitous.
Roundabout
Roundabout adjective - Not straightforward or direct.
Usage example: took a roundabout route to the beach
Mutual synonyms
Cite this Source
Roundabout and Circular. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/circular/roundabout
Circular & Roundabout. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/circular/roundabout>.
Roundabout or Circular. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/circular/roundabout.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "circular" and "roundabout" have occurred on timeline