sinuous

[sin-yoo-uhs]

adjective

1. having many curves, bends, or turns; winding.

   a sinuous path.

   Synonyms: serpentine
   Antonyms: straight

2. indirect; devious.

   sinuous questions.

   Synonyms: roundabout
   Antonyms: direct

3. characterized by a series of graceful curving motions.

   a sinuous dance.

4. Botany.,  sinuate, as a leaf.

sinuous

/ ˈsɪnjʊəs /

adjective

1. full of turns or curves; intricate

2. devious; not straightforward

3. supple; lithe

Other Word Forms

• sinuously adverb
• sinuousness noun
• subsinuous adjective
• unsinuous adjective
• unsinuously adverb
• unsinuousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinuous¹

From the Latin word sinuōsus, dating back to 1570–80. See sinus, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of sinuous¹

C16: from Latin sinuōsus winding, from sinus a curve

Example Sentences

The altar frontal presents the Pentecost, as if on stage, enacted by high-relief figures, framed by a sinuous drape.

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Reviewing that show, our critic said that it “reveals the full scope of an enormously talented and prolific artist who was much more than a sculptor of sinuous, crocheted-wire abstractions.”

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Most prominent in the decoration is sinuous ivy, which curls around the entire vessel.

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Next, they dug a pathway through the back and side yards, installing the broken pieces of concrete to form “sinuous paths that would lead to moments of discovery,” Glass says.

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It’s a long, sinuous riff, one so intoxicating that the audience in front of him can’t help but to two-step across the crowded dance floor.

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Related Words

• crooked 
• curved www.thesaurus.com
• meandering 
• serpentine 
• undulating