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
Sharks with lower energy reserves, in contrast, exhibited more tortuous or localized movements, likely reflecting a strategy constrained by limited metabolic capacity.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Their adoption follows tortuous negotiations with the powerful governors of Nigeria’s 36 states, hundreds of legislators and labor union leaders.
—Nduka Orjinmo, Bloomberg, 2 Jan. 2026
In phantom endovascular models, the robot successfully navigated through tortuous vessel-like structures, demonstrating the technique’s potential for minimally invasive vascular interventions.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
For his role in the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which came out in 2000, Jim Carrey’s tortuous costume and makeup had him on the verge of walking away from a $20 million paycheck.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Their adoption follows tortuous negotiations with the powerful governors of Nigeria’s 36 states, hundreds of legislators and labor union leaders.
—Nduka Orjinmo, Bloomberg, 2 Jan. 2026
In phantom endovascular models, the robot successfully navigated through tortuous vessel-like structures, demonstrating the technique’s potential for minimally invasive vascular interventions.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
For his role in the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which came out in 2000, Jim Carrey’s tortuous costume and makeup had him on the verge of walking away from a $20 million paycheck.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortuous
Adjective
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Soneva Jani stretches almost four miles along a stunning lagoon, with a small, lush island connecting two winding jetties, each snaking through the turquoise waters and leading to a collection of unique overwater villas.—
William Curtis,
Travel + Leisure,
6 May 2026
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Even the entrance is enveloping—a winding, sheltered, dark wooden path that smells like intense relaxation and essential oils.—
Morgan Fargo,
Vogue,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This curved table from Martha Stewart’s home line has a flat back that sits flush against the wall without sacrificing space.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
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The company has often touted it as a solution for creating curved car displays.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
5 May 2026
Adjective
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Mobile homes at Wash Trailer Park in Bogue Chitto were reduced to heaps of twisted metal and debris; Lincoln County alone reported roughly 200 homes damaged.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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On the ground were the charred remains of the bus and tanker truck, with twisted metal scattered across the highway.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Like a vibrantly hued snake darting down the narrow branch of a tree, the collective of high-performance automobiles rapidly navigates the narrow, serpentine artery along the Northeastern Italian coast, a quicksilver-like tracing of the border between Il Bel Paese and Slovenia.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
11 May 2026
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The Comeback never got any nominations in the supporting categories, but Andrew Scott could pull some attention as the show’s serpentine tech-bro CEO.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tortuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortuous. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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