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
The news in December that the long-standing chairman was leaving, to be replaced by namesake and fellow Fosun executive Nathan Shi, was widely welcomed by fans who held Jeff Shi responsible for the club’s tortuous last few seasons.
—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
First, even leaving aside the long build-time, there is a tortuous regulatory maze that has to be navigated that seems like something the Greek gods devised to annoy Odysseus.
—
David Szondy
may 24,
New Atlas,
24 May 2026
Across the United States, there are key animal species – indicator species, they are sometimes called – whose own stories exemplify the tortuous path of environmental protection.
—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
The 2 World Trade Center building will round out the long, tortuous redevelopment of the original 16-acre trade center property.
—
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
First, even leaving aside the long build-time, there is a tortuous regulatory maze that has to be navigated that seems like something the Greek gods devised to annoy Odysseus.
—
David Szondy
may 24,
New Atlas,
24 May 2026
Across the United States, there are key animal species – indicator species, they are sometimes called – whose own stories exemplify the tortuous path of environmental protection.
—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
The 2 World Trade Center building will round out the long, tortuous redevelopment of the original 16-acre trade center property.
—
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortuous
Adjective
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From $561 per night. Perks: Saltwater pool and spa, king beds in all rooms, piano, fire pit At the top of a long and winding drive awaits Le Petite Retreat.
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Said Rahmani often compared his life story to the plot of Paulo Coelho’s novel The Alchemist, in which a young shepherd sets off on a long and winding journey to find his treasure, only to learn that it was buried near his home all along.
Adjective
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With curved teardrop shapes, floral accents, and leaf motifs, its design works especially well for the spring and summer seasons, though its abstract, ornamental pattern can be displayed during cooler months as well.
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After following along the curved layers in the scan, researchers then virtually flatten the scrolls and explore them using advanced AI that has been trained to identify ink on the page.
Adjective
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Previously, there was about a 2-inch dropoff on either sideline behind the benches, which posed a risk of a twisted ankle if a player ran too far out of bounds.
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Deep in the 531,148-acre Nantahala National Forest stands a towering and twisted hemlock that appears to be dead, but is very much alive on the inside with a colony of bats.
Adjective
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Caruso’s five-star resort at Rosewood Miramar Beach includes a staircase similar to one of Williams’s and a pool with serpentine edges that’s inspired by the one Williams built for a Palm Springs resort.
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Have the belt system inspected soon because if the serpentine belt fails completely, important engine components may stop working and engine damage could occur.
Cite this Entry
“Tortuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortuous. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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