Word
tortuous
Phoneticstor·tu·ous, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɔɹtʃəwəs/
UK/tˈɔːtʃuːəs/
Definition
adj. full of twists and turns, like a winding road. You also use it for something long and complicated, like a difficult process.
adj. Marked by repeated twists, bends, or turns in physical form. Extended to describe reasoning, processes, or narratives that are excessively lengthy and complex.
Examples
“The path to the village is narrow and tortuous.”
“The bus follows a tortuous mountain road with sharp bends above the valley.”
“After months of tortuous talks, the two sides finally reached a deal that pleased no one fully.”
Examples
simple
“The path to the village is narrow and tortuous.”
contextual
“The bus follows a tortuous mountain road with sharp bends above the valley.”
complex
“After months of tortuous talks, the two sides finally reached a deal that pleased no one fully.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tortuous” in context.
Verb
01. become tortuous
“The discussion quickly became tortuous over minor legal details.”
verb + adj
02. find tortuous
“Many readers find his syntax tortuous and hard to follow.”
verb + adj
03. prove tortuous
“What seemed simple proved tortuous once lawyers became involved.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. extremely tortuous
“The mountain pass was extremely tortuous, with hairpin bends every few metres.”
adv + adj
05. notoriously tortuous
“The tax code is notoriously tortuous and confuses even accountants.”
adv + adj
06. particularly tortuous
“The final section of the trail becomes particularly tortuous after rain.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. tortuous journey
“He described his tortuous journey from refugee to surgeon.”
adj + noun
08. tortuous logic
“The lawyer defended his client with tortuous logic.”
adj + noun
09. a long and tortuous process
“Approval was a long and tortuous process involving five committees.”
10. a tortuous path to peace
“The ceasefire marked one step on a tortuous path to peace.”
11. a tortuous road to recovery
“After injury, she faced a tortuous road to recovery.”
12. navigate a tortuous route
“Drivers must navigate a tortuous route through the mountains.”
Real-World Examples
“Many Sky Blues fans hoped they would make a swift return but their journey back has proved tortuous - with the club falling into League Two at one stage and at times also having to play their home games away from Coventry.” “Teenagers getting their results, facing the long, tortuous struggle towards a grade 9, might feel empathy with those sinners in Dante's Inferno who face nine circles of pain and torment.” Etymology
From Middle English tortuous, tortuose, from Anglo-Norman and Old French tortuos, from Latin tortuōsus, from tortus (“a twisting, winding”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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