CIRCUMSTANTIAL Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'circumstantial' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of circumstantial are detailed , minute , and particular . While all these words mean "dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point," circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space. // a circumstantial account of our visit

Q: When could 'detailed' be used to replace 'circumstantial'?

The meanings of detailed and circumstantial largely overlap; however, detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail. // a detailed analysis of the event

Q: When is 'minute' a more appropriate choice than 'circumstantial'?

In some situations, the words minute and circumstantial are roughly equivalent. However, minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details. // a minute examination of a fossil

Q: When can 'particular' be used instead of 'circumstantial'?

The synonyms particular and circumstantial are sometimes interchangeable, but particular implies a precise attention to every detail. // a particular description of the scene of the crime

circumstantial

adjective

ˌsər-kəm-ˈstan(t)-shəl

Definition of circumstantial next

as in detailed

including many small descriptive features the circumstantial account of his surgery told us more than we really wanted to know about the stomach

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How does the adjective circumstantial differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of circumstantial are detailed, minute, and particular. While all these words mean "dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point," circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space.

a circumstantial account of our visit

When could detailed be used to replace circumstantial?

The meanings of detailed and circumstantial largely overlap; however, detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail.

a detailed analysis of the event

When is minute a more appropriate choice than circumstantial?

In some situations, the words minute and circumstantial are roughly equivalent. However, minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details.

a minute examination of a fossil

When can particular be used instead of circumstantial?

The synonyms particular and circumstantial are sometimes interchangeable, but particular implies a precise attention to every detail.

a particular description of the scene of the crime

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of circumstantial Then, an employee cut is not perceived as a personal decision but a circumstantial one. —

Expert Panel®, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 The areas that can still do with improvement are decisiveness in front of goal, which tends to be very circumstantial, and being less sloppy at the start of games. —

Art De Roché, The Athletic, 4 Aug. 2024 Ibarra's defense attorney, Dustin Kirby, had argued the prosecution's evidence against his client was circumstantial and did not prove his guilt. —

Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2024 Defense attorney Kaitlyn Beck told the judge that the evidence was circumstantial and did not definitively prove Ibarra’s guilt. —

Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for circumstantial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for circumstantial

Adjective

Simplicity Al-Jazari’s detailed drawings with instructions are perhaps the earliest examples of a ‘do it yourself’ innovation kit, drawing the reader’s attention and exciting them about the possibilities and applications that the tool can provide.

— Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Smith's report is expected to provide the most detailed explanation yet about what evidence the special counsel uncovered during its two-year investigation and why the Justice Department decided to indict Trump in two cases: for charges of election interference and mishandling classified documents.

— Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025