tortuous

UK: /ˈtɔː^rtʃuəs/ US: /ˈtɔrtʃuəs/ ,(tôr′cho̅o̅ əs)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tor•tu•ous /ˈtɔrtʃuəs/   adj. 

1. full of twists, turns, or bends:
   a tortuous path.
2. not direct or straightforward, as in behavior or speech:
   tortuous reasoning.

tor•tu•ous•ly, adv. 
tor•tu•ous•ness, n. [uncountable] See -tort-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tor•tu•ous  (tôr′cho̅o̅ əs), adj. 

1. 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.

• Latin tortuōsus, equivalent. to tortu(s) a twisting (tor(quēre) to twist, bend + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action) + -ōsus -ous
• Middle English 1350–1400

tor ′tu•ous•ly, adv. 
tor ′tu•ous•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. bent, sinuous, serpentine.
• 2. evasive, roundabout, indirect.

Usage

See torturous.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tortuous / ˈtɔːtjʊəs/ adjective

1. twisted or winding
2. devious or cunning
3. intricate

ˈtortuously adverb

ˈtortuousness noun