indirect

7 definitions • 12 examples

happening in addition to an intended result, often in a way that is complicated or not obvious:

The benefits from pure research are often indirect.

Indirect effects of the fighting include disease and food shortages.

avoiding clearly mentioning or saying something:

indirect criticism

not following a straight line, or not directly or simply connected:

to take an indirect route/flight

happening in addition to an intended result:

Several other people were hurt as an indirect result of his carelessness.

not following a straight line, or not connected in a simple way:

an indirect route

Ransom thought the best approach in defending truth is the indirect one.

not done or communicated in a direct way:

We decided to take an indirect approach to tackling the problem of absenteeism.

He made only an indirect reference to what had happened at the meeting.

happening in addition to an intended result, often in a way that is complicated or not obvious:

This is the indirect effect of a bad business climate that discourages companies from expanding here.

Incentives can pay for themselves through jobs and indirect benefits to the local economy.

Here the deregulation affected the environment, but in a more indirect way.