adjective
indirect
in-duh-REKT/ˌɪndəˈrekt/
Reaching something through an intervening route or step.
An indirect path winds from the open gate to the nearby bench.
Etymology
The underlying image is of setting something straight, negated by in-. Something indirect does not follow a straight course, whether that course is a physical route or a straightforward way of communicating.
In context
But the SSRIs themselves are not plugging into some specific mechanism related to how fear comes about in the system. It's an indirect support.
More examples
- Road closures force us to take an indirect route home.
- Her comment about the chilly room is an indirect request for heat.
- The new policy has an indirect effect on food prices.
- We maintain indirect contact through a mutual friend.
Forms
indirect
indirectly adverb — Through a roundabout route or intermediate step.
indirectness noun — The quality of being roundabout or unstated.
Similar words
- roundabout
- Emphasizes taking extra steps rather than the simplest approach.
- circuitous
- Emphasizes a route that is longer and more winding.
- oblique
- Describes suggestions or references that avoid stating something plainly.