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tortuous

adjective

ˈtȯrch-wəs How to pronounce tortuous (audio)
Definition of tortuousnext
as in winding
marked by a long series of irregular curves a tortuous mountain road marked by numerous hairpin turns

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Example 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 tortuous In one of the darkest days in Tour history, British rider Tom Simpson died after collapsing during a tortuous ascent in 1967. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 Marshall’s reelection campaign could draw national attention as Republicans gear up for a potentially tortuous midterm election cycle amid a bitter fight for seats in Congress. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026 Neither side seems in the mood to talk; both have said that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed in June after weeks of tortuous negotiation is no longer in effect. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 Breton’s often tortuous and highly idiomatic prose style presents an enormous challenge to translators. — Susan Rubin Suleiman, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortuous
  1. winding
  2. curved
  3. twisted
  4. serpentine
Adjective
  • Every floor and room is dedicated to specific watch brands and timepieces, featuring bespoke details like watch-hand door handles and winding-crown faucet handles, all crafted by Florentine artisans.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As such, the show takes you on a winding journey of France’s influential craftsmanship and its impact on America via archival looks, dazzling objects, and more modern creations.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 29 May 2026
Definition of winding
Adjective
  • The limestone around the stadium’s perimeter gently swoops up and down in a move that recalls the gracefully curved bowl of Ryan Field’s earlier iteration.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The researchers are now combining that printing process with robotics, software and real-time monitoring to control how circuits are deposited on curved surfaces.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of curved
Adjective
  • Other people were disappointed that the twisted churro, which was reportedly introduced in 2021, was being brought back and not the classic straight version that dates back to the 1990s — which only cost 99 cents.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The cars spiral over and under portions of the park’s multilevel escalator, and include four launches, an inverted dive loop, twisted pretzel loop, an inverted stall and other thrills, reaching speed of 72 mph.
    — Carole Horst, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of twisted
Adjective
  • The David Geffen Galleries at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, designed by Peter Zumthor, opened in April — a sprawling, serpentine concrete mass looming 30 feet above Wilshire Boulevard on seven bulky inhabited pavilions.
    — Sam Lubell, Curbed, 21 Sep. 2026
  • In photos shared by the Daily Mail, Amal turned heads in her flowy maxiskirt, which was covered in a serpentine print and featured a bold center slit that showed off a pair of towering brown stiletto sandals that were secured with an ankle strap.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of serpentine

Browse Nearby Words

tors
tortuous
torture
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Cite this Entry

“Tortuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortuous. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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