English adjective: indirect | |||
1. | indirect having intervening factors or persons or influences | ||
Samples | Reflection from the ceiling provided a soft indirect light. Indirect evidence. An indirect cause. | ||
Similar | mediate | ||
Antonyms | immediate | ||
2. | indirect not direct in spatial dimension; not leading by a straight line or course to a destination | ||
Samples | Sometimes taking an indirect path saves time. You must take an indirect course in sailing. | ||
Similar | askance, askant, asquint, circuitous, devious, diversionary, meandering, rambling, roundabout, sidelong, squint, squint-eyed, squinty, wandering, winding | ||
See also | crooked | ||
Attribute | directness, straightness | ||
Antonyms | direct | ||
3. | indirect descended from a common ancestor but through different lines | ||
Samples | Cousins are collateral relatives. An indirect descendant of the Stuarts. | ||
Synonyms | collateral | ||
See also | related | ||
Antonyms | lineal, direct | ||
4. | indirect extended senses; not direct in manner or language or behavior or action | ||
Samples | Making indirect but legitimate inquiries. An indirect insult. Doubtless they had some indirect purpose in mind. Though his methods are indirect they are not dishonest. Known as a shady indirect fellow. | ||
Similar | allusive, ambagious, backhanded, circuitous, circumlocutious, circumlocutory, devious, digressive, discursive, excursive, hearsay, mealy-mouthed, mealymouthed, oblique, periphrastic, rambling, roundabout, tortuous | ||
Antonyms | direct | ||
5. | indirect not as a direct effect or consequence | ||
Samples | Indirect benefits. An indirect advantage. | ||
Similar | secondary | ||
Antonyms | primary | ||