Skip to main content
sinuously

sinuously

1 7.4
In a winding, curving way
  • adverb
  • /ˈsɪn.ju.əs.li/
translation icon : sinuosamente
  • Eric's gloved hand slides sinuously up the rusted railing.
  • moved sinuously
  • wound sinuously

Examples

  • She stood up to go to the bathroom, and I saw she had a graceful figure; she moved lightly, sinuously.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • "I sense pleasant tonal variations emanating from spots in the wall," Fnork said, waving its tentacle sinuously overhead in time with the music.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The ball arced toward her sinuously and dropped.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • "How will they do so on less?" The cat shrugged sinuously.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • He glided sinuously through the crowd, his walking almost dancing; everyone was watching us.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Then a pair of shadows detached themselves from the end of the bar and approached the stage, moving silently, sinuously.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The woman dances around him, letting her diaphanous veil trail sinuously around his body.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Yael was pacing, her hips sinuously swaying.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Sinuously, you stood on one leg, leaned all your weight on that side, and then slowly, sensuously leaned on the other.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The path wound sinuously through the forest, making it difficult to see what lay ahead.

Synonyms

crookedly
vssinuously
2 4.2

In a way that is not straight or level

describes graceful winding curves rather than mere lack of straightness
tortuously
vssinuously
1 9.1

In a long, winding way that is hard to follow

is simpler, meaning smooth curving rather than complex or tricky paths
circularly
vssinuously
1 4.8

Moving or placed in a circle

covers varied winding forms, not limited to simple circles
torsionally
vssinuously
  • Specialized
1 8.8

In a way that comes from twisting something

describes visual winding curves rather than mechanical twisting forces
curlingly
vssinuously
7.9

In a twisting way that makes soft curves

is more general, meaning any winding or serpentine curve
spirally
vssinuously
6.6

In a curved way that goes around a center

is broader, covering all kinds of winding curves not only spirals
curvilinearly
vssinuously
9.3

In a curved way that follows a smooth line

includes curved lines but also more irregular, snake like bends
meanderingly
vssinuously
7.4

In a winding way with many turns

focuses on sinuous shape rather than the slow wandering aspect
windedly
vssinuously
  • Literature
9.2

In a long indirect way that does not get to the point

emphasizes the physical winding form rather than indirectness or detour
bendingly
vssinuously
6.7

In a way that makes the body or an object curve

describes curving shape specifically, not only the act of bending
twistedly
vssinuously
7.6

In a bent, not straight way

is about smooth, flowing winding rather than harsh contortion
elliptically
vssinuously
6.5

Something moves in a long round path like an oval

is more general, covering many winding shapes beyond an oval
sinusoidally
vssinuously
  • Specialized
9.6

To move in a smooth way that goes up and down like a wave

is about serpentine bending rather than a precise wave pattern

Antonyms

11 4.3

In a strict way that does not allow change

In a clear, honest way without hiding anything

How Winding

writhing
6.0
sinuously
1 7.4
curved shape
1 1.9
sliding
2.8
translation
  • Specialized
1 6.8

Surface Forms

sinuously positive
sinuouslyer comparative
sinuouslyest superlative

Morphology

sinuously = sinuous (transparent) = sinuous + ly

Formed by adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'sinuous', so the meaning is directly 'in a winding manner'.

Etymology

Sinuously comes from the Latin root sinus, which meant 'bend' or 'curve' and is the same root behind words like insinuate and the medical word sinus. So, to move sinuously is to move in a slow, winding, curving way.