as in winding
marked by a long series of irregular curves
a tortuous mountain road marked by numerous hairpin turns
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
All this took place against the backdrop of a tortuous revamping of the 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade into a stronger World Trade Organization.
—
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
The 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, 29 Jan. 2025
While examples abound, the state’s woebegone bullet train project, its tortuous efforts to implement information technology and the financial and managerial meltdown of its unemployment insurance program are among the most egregious.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2025
If that research goes well, the treatment could advance into human clinical trials — often a long, tortuous process.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
The 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, 29 Jan. 2025
While examples abound, the state’s woebegone bullet train project, its tortuous efforts to implement information technology and the financial and managerial meltdown of its unemployment insurance program are among the most egregious.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2025
If that research goes well, the treatment could advance into human clinical trials — often a long, tortuous process.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortuous
Adjective
-
In addition, the watch has a stop-second function, which halts the balance wheel and seconds hand when the winding crown is pulled out, allowing for precise time adjustments.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
The crash occurred on U.S. Highway 90 about 30 miles outside of New Orleans — on a winding, narrow stretch of the two-lane highway known as the Old Spanish Trail, per The Salina Journal.—
Lynsey Eidell,
People.com,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
Dexter unknowingly steps into a Gotham-like serial-killer universe led by twisted billionaire venture capitalist Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage) and his chief of security, Charley (Uma Thurman).—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
-
Jeans with twisted seams, pleating, high waists and deep contrasting cuffs laid the foundation to looks that include damask blazers and shirts featuring paintings by Edvard Munch and Elizabeth Peyton.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
But a large-scale serpentine sofa in the center can break up a space, acting as both seating and separation.—
Dina Cheney,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
-
Purple mouse ears, fragrant fritillary and woodland wooly thread tend to grow primarily in serpentine habitats, as do the Coastal tidy tips and the California poppy.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tortuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortuous. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share