winding 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of windingnext
1
as in twisting
marked by a long series of irregular curves a long and winding path through the woods

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spiral
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw a winding staircase leads to the top of the lighthouse

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

winding

2 of 3

noun

as in loop

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winding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of wind
1
as in coiling
to follow a circular or spiral course flowering vines wind around the porch's graceful columns

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in infiltrating
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way self-interest winds itself into everything that he does—even his alleged favors for other people

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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 winding
Adjective
For such a long and winding season, the last game was also a surprisingly neat bow. — Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Vast stretches of suburban concrete block its natural drainage, and thousands of homes have been built along its winding, sluggish tributaries. — Dominic Boyer, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
During sudden changes in the external magnetic field, the uninsulated coil remained stable and yielded key data on how fast electrical currents adjust inside the winding. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026 Across the field from the Salvation Army’s giveaway, Gary residents waited in a winding but fast-moving line toward the many tents set up by local restaurants and businesses that were serving families for free. — Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
Its paths stretch across 478 hilly acres, winding beside tombs belonging to iconic figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Leonard Bernstein. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2026 After a long, winding campaign trail, polls are now closed Tuesday, setting the stage for potential shifts in Maryland’s political landscape. — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for winding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winding
  1. curved
  2. spiral
  3. loop
  4. coiling
  5. infiltrating
  6. serpentine
  7. coil
  8. curling
Adjective
  • Like something out of a Slim Aarons photo, the curved midcentury pool was a popular setting for fashion shows in the 1960s.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Designed to be a private retreat, each seat is framed by curved sliding doors and walls for even more seclusion while in flight.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of curved
Adjective
  • Over months of reporting, ProPublica has watched the East Orange VA Medical Center — a typical agency facility — spiral downward.
    — Eric Umansky, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2026
  • All four spiral slides are open to the public and allow four people to ride simultaneously from various entrances such as the family-style restaurants, the Google offices, the Rosewood Hotel, and the Arte Abierto Art Space.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of spiral
Noun
  • Its stated goal is to build continuous defensive loops that find and fix weaknesses before attackers do.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The husband freed one loop, then another, and used the momentum to pull the dog toward him and out of the car.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of loop
Verb
  • In those animals, a mutation in another gene can produce left-coiling individuals, but it is also associated with abnormal development.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The stock has spent two months coiling in a narrow range, so the levels that matter are close by.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of coiling
Verb
  • Desperate to see him and be by his side during his final days, Valeria commissions his artist wife, Isla (Hall), to paint her portrait— covertly infiltrating the intimate inner workings of Martin’s home and family.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The hacker seems to have done so by infiltrating a content delivery network server from Level Infinite, and adding the malicious payload on September 27th.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of infiltrating
Adjective
  • Viewed from the waters of Turner Creek, a serpentine tributary east of Savannah, the dock stretches so far across the marsh that even those with 20-20 vision must squint to see where planking meets terra firma.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Unfurling through the grand midcentury Grill room was a snaking, glamorously gluttonous serpentine buffet that stretched from entrance to their 20-foot tall windows.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of serpentine
Noun
  • Beyond its own career, Television became a key inspiration for Sonic Youth and Geese, which shared Television’s downtown panache and coils of guitar noise.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Spring and fall are the best times to schedule a tune-up to address problems and have your coils cleaned.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of coil
Verb
  • Gathering at the back of her skull, the bob’s length created a bouncy effect, curling toward Grande’s neck.
    — Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2026
  • The Weatherbeater mats are meant to stay flexible in the cold and resist the cracking and curling that cheap rubber mats develop after a couple of seasons.
    — Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of curling

Browse Nearby Words

windiness
winding
winding down
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Cite this Entry

“Winding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winding. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on winding

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about winding

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