flexuous

9.9

Having many bends and curves like a winding path

adjective
/ˈflɛkʃuəs/

: flexuoso

In Charles Darwin's 1872 work The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, he characterized the joyous, playful behavior of dogs as "flexuous movements."

Examples

The river took a flexuous path through the lush green valley.
As she danced, her body moved in flexuous motions that seemed to flow with the music.
The artist created a sculpture with flexuous lines that captivated the viewers.

Synonyms

sinuous

vsflexuous

5 7.4

Shows many smooth, flowing curves like a snake or river

is more general, meaning winding rather than graceful

bendy

vsflexuous

1 3.6

Having many curves like a winding road

applies to winding form but is more formal and about graceful movement

anfractuous

vsflexuous

Archaic

9.9

A path or road that has many twists and turns

focuses on winding form but not on complexity or intricacy

Antonyms

straight

∞ 1.0

In a direct line without turning

linear

Specialized

5 6.1

Long and narrow with nearly parallel sides like grass leaves

How Winding

tortuous

7 8.1

flexuous

9.9

winding

2.7

curving

2.5

Surface Forms

flexuous positive

Morphology

flexuous = flex (semi-transparent) = flex + uous

The meaning is built from 'flex' (bend) plus the rare adjectival suffix '-uous'; learners who know 'flex' can guess the basic idea but '-uous' is uncommon.

Etymology

Flexuous comes from the Latin root flex meaning 'bend', the same root you see in flexible or when you 'flex' a muscle. So flexuous describes something 'full of bends' or winding, which is why we use it for curving lines, paths, or rivers.