tortuous situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tortuous situation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a complex, confusing, or difficult circumstance that is hard to navigate. Example: "The negotiations turned into a tortuous situation, with each party struggling to find common ground."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I wish to be able to exercise the freedom which everyone else would have: to decide how to end this constant tortuous situation".

The Guardian

It's not unlike the morally tortuous situation in Orson Welles's "Touch of Evil," in which a corrupt detective plants incriminating evidence on the man who actually committed the murder in question.

The New Yorker

"I wish to be able to exercise the freedom which everyone else would have – to decide how to end this constant tortuous situation," Martin said in a statement issued by his lawyers.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A few years ago, Harley was working for New Balance on a situation that was a particularly tortuous version of third-shift.

The New Yorker

Endovascular management of thoracoabdominal aneurysms has been studied since 2001, with marked advances allowing for the treatment of complex anatomic situations including chronic aortic dissections, tortuous anatomy, and extensive aneurysms that involve the visceral segment, aortic arch, and iliacs as well.

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

However, when faced with more challenging situations, for example, in patients with large or multiple stones and tapered or tortuous distal common duct, additional techniques such as mechanical lithotripsy may be utilized [ 2, 3].

BioMed Research International

A lot of times there are situations where the route that items travel before they come to him can be long and tortuous.

The New York Times

While IOC members politicked and plotted about the situation at Fifa, the continuing race for the 2022 Winter Olympics between Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan and a tortuous internal dispute surrounding an organisation called Sport Accord, few found any time to consider the reasons they were there.

The Guardian - Sport

The funding package is tortuous.

The Economist

Tortuous negotiations between Egypt and Israel ensued.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This often makes business decisions tortuous.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and ensure they understand the nuanced meaning of 'tortuous', which goes beyond simple difficulty to imply complexity and intricacy. If unsure, simpler alternatives like "complex situation" may be more effective.

Common error

Avoid using "tortuous" when you mean "torturous". "Tortuous" describes something winding and complicated, while "torturous" describes something involving torture or extreme pain. For example, say "the path was tortuous", not "the path was torturous" unless you mean it inflicted pain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tortuous situation" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where the adjective "tortuous" modifies the noun "situation". According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct. The adjective emphasizes the complicated and convoluted nature of the situation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tortuous situation" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe complex, confusing, and difficult circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not extremely common, it appears in reputable sources like The Guardian and The New Yorker. The key is to use "tortuous" accurately, distinguishing it from "torturous", and to ensure the context warrants a descriptor that emphasizes intricacy and complication. Consider simpler alternatives if clarity is paramount. Its occurrence is rare, but correct. Use it carefully and accurately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complex predicament

Replaces 'tortuous' with 'complex' and 'situation' with 'predicament' implying a difficult or unpleasant situation.

complicated scenario

Substitutes 'tortuous' with 'complicated' and 'situation' with 'scenario', suggesting a complex or intricate situation.

difficult circumstances

Replaces "tortuous situation" with "difficult circumstances", focusing on the challenging nature of the conditions.

intricate dilemma

Uses 'intricate' instead of 'tortuous' and 'dilemma' instead of 'situation', emphasizing the complex and problematic nature of the situation.

convoluted affair

Replaces "tortuous situation" with "convoluted affair", suggesting a confusing and complex series of events or matter.

labyrinthine circumstances

Replaces "tortuous" with "labyrinthine", which conveys a more confusing and intricate path through the situation.

perplexing state of affairs

This alternative uses more descriptive words to convey a sense of confusion and difficulty inherent in the situation.

knotty problem

A more concise way of describing a complicated or difficult situation using a metaphoric descriptor.

Byzantine complexity

This phrase alludes to something extremely complicated and intricately involved through the adjective "Byzantine".

thorny issue

This alternative uses a metaphor to convey a situation that's difficult to handle without causing problems or offense.

FAQs

What does "tortuous situation" mean?

A "tortuous situation" refers to a circumstance that is complex, confusing, and difficult to navigate. It implies a winding and complicated path to resolution, rather than a straightforward problem.

How can I use "tortuous situation" in a sentence?

You can use "tortuous situation" to describe negotiations, processes, or any set of circumstances that are highly complex and difficult to resolve. For example: "The negotiations turned into a tortuous situation." or "Navigating the legal system became a tortuous situation".

What are some alternatives to "tortuous situation"?

You can use alternatives such as "complex predicament", "complicated scenario", or "difficult circumstances" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "tortuous" to describe a person's character?

While "tortuous" primarily describes paths, processes, or situations, it can be metaphorically applied to a person's reasoning or behavior to suggest that it is convoluted, indirect, or difficult to follow. However, consider whether a more direct adjective like "devious" or "complicated" might be clearer.