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
Another machinery noise reducer involves cutting out the gurgling of flowing liquids by using special pipes that send the fluids on a tortuous path that minimizes turbulence.
—
New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025
In retrospect, 1943, which saw the publication of three remarkable books by three remarkable women, is sometimes seen as the beginning of a long and tortuous comeback for the ideas of liberty.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 23 Nov. 2025
Flying anywhere for the Thanksgiving holiday is likely to be tortuous for legions of travelers — even if the government shutdown ends today, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned today.
—Jay Blackman, NBC news, 8 Nov. 2025
The development concludes a tortuous bargaining process that lasted longer than the term of the three-year contract.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2025
In retrospect, 1943, which saw the publication of three remarkable books by three remarkable women, is sometimes seen as the beginning of a long and tortuous comeback for the ideas of liberty.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 23 Nov. 2025
Flying anywhere for the Thanksgiving holiday is likely to be tortuous for legions of travelers — even if the government shutdown ends today, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned today.
—Jay Blackman, NBC news, 8 Nov. 2025
The development concludes a tortuous bargaining process that lasted longer than the term of the three-year contract.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for tortuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortuous
Adjective
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Chicago capped a winding season of exclamation-point football with its wild-card comeback against the archrival Green Bay Packers.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2026
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Old Town Albuquerque With its narrow, winding streets and adobe architecture, Old Town Albuquerque oozes small-town charm.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In bandy, athletes on ice skates use curved sticks to try to shoot a small ball (not a puck) into the other team's net.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
6 Feb. 2026
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The rear bedroom comes to life through an inside-out ship hull-like design in which thin strips of contrasting wood visually separate the underlying birch into what appears like curved planks.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In this succession of adaptations, each filmmaker has gradually softened the original form—a dark and twisted story of obsession, generational trauma, and self-destruction—into something that more closely resembles a wild, cinematic love story.—
Cazzie David,
Vogue,
6 Feb. 2026
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As the rising sun seeps through twisted mangroves, JP Clark’s fly fishing rod bends suddenly.—
Max Chesnes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Serpentine nail art with hearts For this festive nail design, paint three of your nails red then trace some strips in shades of pink and white in the style of a serpentine nail design.—
Paola Zamarripa,
Glamour,
10 Feb. 2026
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Here’s how Najash taught herpetologists that serpentine body plans didn’t evolve in a straight line, from lizard to legless.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tortuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortuous. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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