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
Egyptian hieroglyphics gave rise to a number of true alphabets, Latin included, through a tortuous procession of descendants.
—
Longreads, 1 July 2025
Then into motorboats for hair-raising dashes through tortuous canals and across rough water to dams far back in some vast marsh.
—Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
And, if that process proved tortuous and violent, what role could the U.S. have in trying to pacify a nation of almost 90 million people?
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 18 June 2025
Rainy days aren’t much better, and the summers are quickly becoming just as tortuous.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Longreads, 1 July 2025
Then into motorboats for hair-raising dashes through tortuous canals and across rough water to dams far back in some vast marsh.
—Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
And, if that process proved tortuous and violent, what role could the U.S. have in trying to pacify a nation of almost 90 million people?
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 18 June 2025
Rainy days aren’t much better, and the summers are quickly becoming just as tortuous.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortuous
Adjective
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Thake took a long and winding trip down the memories of South Yorkshire football, a path which eventually led him to the living room of a shy, almost reclusive Rotherham man called Terry Moran.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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The Didi and Gogo that Sparks and Shannon created were full of blood and bile, real people with — no matter how obscured in its details by time and circumstance — a long and winding relationship.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The unique curved heel, measuring around four inches, gives the classic silhouette an interesting edge.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
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The curved leg and tapered ankle create a subtle elongating effect, giving the illusion of longer legs while still feeling easy and comfortable to move in.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The factory works with a complex double-twisted, gassed cotton fabric that large manufacturers refuse to handle due to its difficulty.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
19 Oct. 2025
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The halter-style dress had a nude satin base and a black tulle overlay with twisted satin at the bottom.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Here, Stone has certainly raised the bar for herself (two Oscars will do that), delivering a smart, serpentine performance worthy of being grouped with the best lead actresses of the year.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
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Backpacks borne and carry-ons in tow, travelers at Miami International Airport shuffled through serpentine security lines on Friday.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tortuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortuous. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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