CEFR C1

indirectness

noun

Meaning

The quality of not being direct in language or action, often used to avoid causing offense or to imply something without stating it explicitly.

Examples

His indirectness made it difficult to understand his true feelings about the proposal.
She appreciated the indirectness of the compliment, which felt more sincere than a direct one.

Synonyms: subtlety, evasiveness, obliqueness, circumlocution

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indirectness (C1)

noun

Pronunciation: /ˌɪn.daɪˈrek.nəs/

Definition

The quality of not being direct in language or action, often used to avoid causing offense or to imply something without stating it explicitly.

Examples

His indirectness made it difficult to understand his true feelings about the proposal.
She appreciated the indirectness of the compliment, which felt more sincere than a direct one.
The politician was known for his indirectness, rarely giving a straight answer to reporters' questions.

How to Use indirectness

indirectness in (prepositional phrase): The quality of being indirect when dealing with a specific area or topic. — "His indirectness in answering questions made the interviewer suspicious."
indirectness of (prepositional phrase): The quality of being indirect regarding a particular thing or person. — "We were frustrated by the indirectness of the company's communication."

Synonyms of indirectness

Words with a similar meaning to indirectness:

Antonyms of indirectness

Words with the opposite meaning to indirectness:

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