What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
meandering
Example
The river meandered through the valley, creating a picturesque landscape. [meandered: verb]
Example
Her speech was full of meandering anecdotes and tangents. [meandering: adjective]
Example
We spent the afternoon meandering through the city streets, taking in the sights and sounds. [meandering: gerund]
tortuous
Example
The tortuous mountain road was treacherous to drive on. [tortuous: adjective]
Example
The legal process was long and tortuous, with many twists and turns. [tortuous: adjective]
Example
His argument was so tortuous that it was hard to follow his reasoning. [tortuous: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Meandering is more commonly used than tortuous in everyday language. Meandering is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while tortuous is less common and tends to be used in more formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between meandering and tortuous?
While meandering is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, tortuous is more formal and tends to be used in academic, legal, or technical contexts.
