tortuous tortuous /ˈtɔrtʃəwəs/

adjective

1. () Highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious  ( Byzantine , convoluted , involved , knotty , tangled , tortuous )
   highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious
    The Byzantine tax structure
   the Byzantine tax structure
    Byzantine methods for holding on to his chairmanship
   Byzantine methods for holding on to his chairmanship
    Convoluted legal language
   convoluted legal language
    Convoluted reasoning
   convoluted reasoning
    The plot was too involved
   the plot was too involved
    A knotty problem
   a knotty problem
    Got his way by labyrinthine maneuvering
   got his way by labyrinthine maneuvering
    Oh, what a tangled web we weave
   Oh, what a tangled web we weave
    Tortuous legal procedures
   tortuous legal procedures
    Tortuous negotiations lasting for months
   tortuous negotiations lasting for months
   
2. Not straightforward  ( tortuous )
   not straightforward
    His tortuous reasoning
   his tortuous reasoning
   
3. Marked by repeated turns and bends  ( tortuous , twisting , twisty , voluminous , winding )
   marked by repeated turns and bends
    A tortuous road up the mountain
   a tortuous road up the mountain
    Winding roads are full of surprises
   winding roads are full of surprises
    Had to steer the car down a twisty track
   had to steer the car down a twisty track