sinuous

adjective

sin·​u·​ous ˈsin-yə-wəs 

-yü-əs

1

a

: of a serpentine or wavy form : winding

b

: marked by strong lithe movements

2

: intricate, complex

sinuously adverb

sinuousness noun

Did you know?

Although it probably makes you think more of snakes than head colds, sinuous is etymologically more like sinus than serpent. Sinuous and sinus both derive from the Latin noun sinus, which means "curve, fold, or hollow." Other sinus descendants include insinuate ("to impart or suggest in an artful or indirect way") and two terms you might remember from math class: sine and cosine. In English, sinus is the oldest of these words; it entered the language in the 1400s. Insinuate appeared next, in the early 1500s, and was followed by sinuous and sine in the latter half of the 1500s, and cosine in the 1600s. Serpent, by the way, entered English in the 13th century and comes from the Latin verb serpere, meaning "to creep."

Synonyms of sinuous

• curved
• winding
• curving
• serpentine
• twisted
• twisting

Examples of sinuous in a Sentence

She moved with sinuous grace.

the river flowed in a sinuous path through the lush valley

Recent Examples on the Web

Recall Serena Williams’ custom Marc Jacobs moment styled by Kesha Mcleod for the 2026 Met Gala — an asymmetric silver dress paired with gold thigh-high sandals with a sinuous strap featuring leafy embellishments wrapping around the leg. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 13 July 2026

His eponymous company went even further with sinuous designs which—in keeping with his belief that a loudspeaker should be treated like a musical instrument—are fashioned specifically with left- and right-channel profiles. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 8 July 2026

The walls that aren’t subject to preservation are sheathed in vast Claro walnut panels of a sinuous, almost figurative grain. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 June 2026

It’s been just two years since Bottega Veneta launched its inaugural fragrance collection, in which, much like the Maison’s intricate leatherwork, the sinuous bottles perched atop sculptural marble stands felt like stand-alone works of art. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin sinuosus, from sinus

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

sinuous

adjective

sin·​u·​ous ˈsin-yə-wəs 

: of a snakelike or wavy form : winding

sinuously adverb