as in winding
marked by a long series of irregular curves
a tortuous mountain road marked by numerous hairpin turns
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Recent Examples of tortuous
Werfel concocted a more tortuous explanation for his wife’s grotesque behavior.
—
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
The obvious parallel in the Chinese case is Mao Zedong, who oversaw a tortuous hollowing out of China’s nascent political and administrative institutions.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2022
Homer’s poem tells of the Greek hero King Odysseus and his tortuous, 10-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025
Advertisement The deal follows months of tortuous negotiations led by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, with the Qataris regularly expressing frustration and threatening to walk away at one point.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
The obvious parallel in the Chinese case is Mao Zedong, who oversaw a tortuous hollowing out of China’s nascent political and administrative institutions.
—Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 16 Mar. 2022
Homer’s poem tells of the Greek hero King Odysseus and his tortuous, 10-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025
Advertisement The deal follows months of tortuous negotiations led by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, with the Qataris regularly expressing frustration and threatening to walk away at one point.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortuous
Adjective
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Newton’s path to jewelry making involved a winding international road.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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After the afternoon prayers, the thunderstorm fading into the distance, a group of girls takes a winding cobblestone path through a thin area of woods and approaches a greenhouse.—
Lindsey McGinnis,
Christian Science Monitor,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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There is a twisted texture that is quite dynamic, while still being compelling enough for everyday wear.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
23 May 2025
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An attempt to streamline that story line would render Elden Ring not unlike Game of Thrones: a dark, twisted fantasy narrative where death rules over all.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Some leaf-mining insects make distinct patterns, like squiggles or serpentine shapes, while others make irregular blotches, like this species.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
8 May 2025
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Nichols Canyon is navigated by a serpentine road that climbs into the mountains above Hollywood and is home to some pretty spectacular dwellings.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tortuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortuous. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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