Tortuous (adjective)
tor·tu·ous [tawr-choo-uhs] (previously 11-04-13)adjective1. full of twists, turns, or bends; twisting, winding, or crooked:
a tortuous path.2. not direct or straightforward, as in procedure or speech; intricate; circuitous:
tortuous negotiations lasting for months.3. deceitfully indirect or morally crooked, as proceedings, methods, or policy; devious.
Can be confused: torturous (see usage note at torturous).
Other Words Fromtor tu·ous·ly adverb
tor tu·ous·ness noun
non·tor tu·ous adjective
non·tor tu·ous·ly adverb
un·tor tu·ous adjective
un·tor tu·ous·ly adverb
un·tor tu·ous·ness noun
Related Wordscircuitous, convoluted, indirect, labyrinthine, meandering, serpentine, twisting, winding
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.comSynonyms 1. bent, sinuous, serpentine.
2. evasive, roundabout, indirect.
Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English < Latin tortuosus , equivalent to tortu ( s ) a twisting ( tor ( quere ) to twist, bend + -tus suffix of v. action) + -osus -ous
Example SentencesPrime ministers often manage to wax lyrical at considerable length in a letter marking a departure, however tortuous or headline-making the whole saga has been.
From BBCThe bizarre, tortuous journey of the Bahia Emerald began in the depths of a Brazilian mine and eventually landed it in a Los Angeles County sheriff’s evidence locker, where it remains today.
From Los Angeles TimesIt also revamped the filter to contain “a tortuous maze of micropores” that helps to “address 200+ typical contaminants found in tap water.”
From Los Angeles TimesEach week, the section highlights one wedding with photos and a generally upbeat tale about the couple’s sometimes tortuous road to the altar.
From Los Angeles TimesThey also revamped the filter to contain “a tortuous maze of micropores” that helps to “address 200+ typical contaminants found in tap water.”
From Los Angeles TimesNow
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