adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈsɪn.ju.əs/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
homophone: sinewous
CMU ARPABET:S IH1 N W AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Having curves in alternate directions; meandering.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
We followed every bend of the sinuous river.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: curvy, serpentine, wavy, windy
Antonyms: flat, straight
2
adj
Meaning 2
Moving gracefully and in a supple manner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
We were entranced by her sinuous dance.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fluid
Antonyms: abrupt, broken
3
adj
Meaning 3
Morally crooked; shifty.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
curved or curving in and out
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
wiggly lines
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sinuate, wiggly
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin sinus Proto-Indo-European *h3ed- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h3édosder.? Proto-Italic *-ŏ̄dsos? Old Latin -ōssus Latin -ōsus Latin sinuōsuslbor. English sinuous Learned borrowing from Latin sinuōsus.
Across languages
Translations
28 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
криволичещ
(krivoličešt)
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Bulgarian:
лъкатушен
(lǎkatušen)
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Bulgarian:
извиващ се
(izvivašt se)
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Catalan:
sinuós
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Finnish:
kiemurteleva
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Finnish:
mutkitteleva
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Finnish:
meanderoiva
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
French:
sinueux
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Galician:
sinuoso
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
German:
kurvenreich
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
German:
gewunden
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Latin:
sinuōsus
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Portuguese:
sinuoso
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Russian:
волнистый
(volnistyj)
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Scottish Gaelic:
lùbach
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Spanish:
sinuoso
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Swedish:
slingrande
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Swedish:
kurvig
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Swedish:
krokig
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Tagalog:
pakiwal-kiwal
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Turkish:
dolambaçlı
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Turkish:
yılankavi
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Vietnamese:
ngoằn ngoèo
— having curves in alternate directions; meandering
Finnish:
sulava
— moving gracefully and in a supple manner
Finnish:
sulavaliikkeinen
— moving gracefully and in a supple manner
Swedish:
smidig
— moving gracefully and in a supple manner
Swedish:
mjuk
— moving gracefully and in a supple manner
Swedish:
vig
— moving gracefully and in a supple manner
