Tortuous Meaning in English
word
Definition
Full of twists and turns, or complex and difficult to follow. Used for both physical paths that wind a lot and things like complicated stories or explanations.
Usage & Nuances
'Tortuous' is formal and often used in writing. It describes physical shapes (winding roads, rivers) and figurative complexity (arguments, stories). Do not confuse with 'torturous', which means 'causing pain or suffering'.
Example Sentences
The river followed a tortuous path through the mountains.
basic
We walked up a tortuous road to reach the village.
basic
The lawyer gave a tortuous explanation of the case.
basic
His journey to success was long and tortuous, full of setbacks.
natural
The plot of that novel is so tortuous that I got confused halfway through.
natural
Getting through the city’s tortuous alleyways took much longer than we expected.
natural