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Definition of tortuously

tortuously

/ˈtɔːr.tʃu.əs.li/
tor · tu · ous · ly
Adjective:tortuous
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tortuously Lexical Profile

tortuously Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In an excessively complex, convoluted, or indirect manner.

Example

"The legal contract was so tortuously worded that even the senior attorneys struggled to interpret the clause."

2

In a manner full of twists, turns, or bends; windingly.

Example

"The narrow mountain trail climbed tortuously toward the summit through dense pine forests."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for tortuously

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'tortuously' (meaning in a winding, twisted, or overly complex manner) with 'torturously' (meaning in a manner that causes severe pain or suffering).

• Nearby Words

tortoiseshell
tortum
tortuous
tortuously
torture
tortured
torturer

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from the adjective 'tortuous' plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'; 'tortuous' derives via Anglo-French from Latin 'tortuosus' (full of twists), from 'torquere' (to twist).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tortuously. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tortuously
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