“Tortuous” vs. “Torturous”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “tortuous” and “torturous”

  • Tortuous relates to something that is complicated or full of twists and turns, while torturous relates to something that causes physical or mental pain.
  • Tortuous is commonly used in a metaphorical sense, while torturous refers more to physical experiences.
  • Tortuous can sometimes be positive or neutral, while torturous always has a negative connotation.
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What is the definition of “tortuous” and “torturous”?

Tortuous
  • Tortuous refers to something that is full of twists and turns.
  • It can be used to describe a road, path or journey that is complicated and difficult.
  • Tortuous can also refer to a speech or writing style that is convoluted and hard to understand.
Torturous
  • Torturous refers to something that causes or involves intense physical or mental suffering.
  • It can be used to describe a cruel or unbearable situation or experience.
  • Torturous can also refer to physical torture or the administering of extreme pain as a form of punishment.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Torturous” is the more popular variant on the web.
Tortuous
9,800,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The tortuous maze of rules and regulations made it impossible to navigate the bureaucracy.
  2. The car ride through the mountains was a tortuous experience of twists and turns.
  3. The politician's explanation was tortuous and difficult to follow.
More popular
Torturous
10,600,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The prisoner endured torturous interrogation techniques for hours on end.
  2. The marathon was a torturous experience for many of the runners.
  3. The child's tantrum was a torturous display of screaming and crying.
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