tortuously
With many turns
Tortuously describes something done in a winding, twisting manner—either literally or figuratively.
A path may wind tortuously through mountains.
An argument may proceed tortuously through convoluted logic: The plot tortuously connected three timelines.
Not to be confused with torturously, which relates to torture or extreme pain.
Curving in repeated bends
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
- twistingRotating with distortion
- sinuousCurving in flowing turns
- circuitousIndirect, winding path
snaking · zigzagging · coiling · curving · looping · switchback · labyrinthine · convoluted
Excessively complex or twisted
- labyrinthineExtremely complex and winding
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- byzantineDauntingly intricate and devious
- complicatedDifficult to understand
knotty · tangled · dense · abstruse · impenetrable · perplexing · confounding · opaque
In tormenting fashion
- excruciatinglyWith intense suffering
- painfullyIn a distressing manner
- wrenchinglyIn a twisting, painful manner
- harrowinglyIn deeply distressing manner
arduously · grueling · punishing · suffering · distressing · ordeal · affliction · tribulation
Avoiding direct response
- circuitouslyIn a winding manner
- obliquelyAt a slant
- periphrasticExpressed through excess words
- roundaboutCircular junction for traffic
meanderingly · digressive · tangentially · elliptically · circumlocution · long-winded · verbose · discursive
serpentine
Curving in repeated bends
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
- twistingRotating with distortion
- sinuousCurving in flowing turns
circuitous · snaking · zigzagging · coiling · curving · looping · switchback · labyrinthine · convoluted · spiraling
convoluted
Excessively complex or twisted
- labyrinthineExtremely complex and winding
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- byzantineDauntingly intricate and devious
complicated · knotty · tangled · dense · abstruse · impenetrable · perplexing · confounding · opaque · obscure
agonizingly
In tormenting fashion
- excruciatinglyWith intense suffering
- painfullyIn a distressing manner
- wrenchinglyIn a twisting, painful manner
harrowingly · arduously · grueling · punishing · suffering · distressing · ordeal · affliction · tribulation · anguish
evasively
Avoiding direct response
- circuitouslyIn a winding manner
- obliquelyAt a slant
- periphrasticExpressed through excess words
roundabout · meanderingly · digressive · tangentially · elliptically · circumlocution · long-winded · verbose · discursive · rambling
tortuouslydirectly
Without intermediary steps
straight · linearly · in a straight line · straightforwardly · as the crow flies
tortuouslystraightforwardly
In an uncomplicated way
simply · easily · directly · smoothly · efficiently