winding 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of windingnext
1
as in twisting
marked by a long series of irregular curves a long and winding path through the woods

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in spiral
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw a winding staircase leads to the top of the lighthouse

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

winding

2 of 3

noun

as in loop

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winding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of wind
1
as in coiling
to follow a circular or spiral course flowering vines wind around the porch's graceful columns

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in infiltrating
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way self-interest winds itself into everything that he does—even his alleged favors for other people

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of winding
Adjective
For such a long and winding season, the last game was also a surprisingly neat bow. — Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Vast stretches of suburban concrete block its natural drainage, and thousands of homes have been built along its winding, sluggish tributaries. — Dominic Boyer, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
Haissem Hassan had made a winding run down the Argentine right before finding Pharaohs star Mohamed Salah. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 The sale marks another chapter in the winding down of Marlborough’s legacy. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 6 July 2026
Verb
The cliffside village, filled with brightly colored houses and steep winding streets, is right out of a storybook. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026 New York City's sewer system is made up of an elaborate and winding network of 7,400 miles of wastewater and stormwater pipes constructed in the 1800s. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for winding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winding
  1. curved
  2. spiral
  3. loop
  4. coiling
  5. infiltrating
  6. serpentine
  7. coil
  8. curling
Adjective
  • Emirates’ massive suite, which is perched over the center of Ashe, is being remodeled this year to emulate the spacious lounges and curved bar on its double-decker Airbus 380 planes.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The darkening will be incredibly subtle compared to that of a partial lunar eclipse, where the moon passes into Earth's intense inner shadow — the umbra — revealing our planet's curved silhouette on the lunar surface.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of curved
Adjective
  • But your first goal is to make sure that one unexpected bill doesn't trigger a debt spiral — even $25 per pay period is a start.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Queen conchs live in spiral, sandy-colored shells with a bright pink or orange interior.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of spiral
Noun
  • Long before feedback control, engineers relied on open-loop systems — and still do.
    — Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The ride reaches speeds of 72 mph, the fastest coaster in Universal’s global portfolio, while traversing 4,100 feet of track, two towering inverted loops and a pretzel loop.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of loop
Verb
  • Joe Kramm | Courtesy of Francis Interiors The gold background is a spread of bold graphic lines, undulating shapes and coiling circular motifs, referencing the work of French artist, sculptor and designer Jean Dunand (1877–1942).
    — R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Receiving a ball punched out of Tunisia’s area, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder took one touch to knock it into space, before coiling his diminutive frame behind a fierce shot that fizzed and curled into the net.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 15 June 2026
Definition of coiling
Verb
  • Meghan expressed concern that school pickups and dropoffs would lead to a swarm of paparazzi infiltrating the moment.
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Dozens of pages of documents describe agents secretly infiltrating meetings, monitoring activist chat groups and using license plate numbers to compile names of people who attended gatherings.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of infiltrating
Adjective
  • The larvae feed on the tree through winter, carving serpentine tunnels that ultimately interfere with the tree’s ability to feed itself.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
  • But, for 2026 anyway, the conference has improved what had been a serpentine system.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
Definition of serpentine
Noun
  • The front suspension is independent, with double wishbones and forged aluminum control arms paired with coil-over springs.
    — William Roberson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Inuit victims, many of them teenagers at the time, said they were either fitted with intrauterine contraceptive devices, known as IUDs or coils, or given a hormonal birth control injection.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of coil
Verb
  • Five minutes later, Messi gave Miami the lead, curling his shot in tight space past three defenders, quieting the sellout crowd at Subaru Park.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond its championship golf courses, guests can play tennis and pickleball, take a hot yoga class, go cross-country skiing, or even try curling.
    — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of curling

Browse Nearby Words

windiness
winding
winding down
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Cite this Entry

“Winding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winding. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on winding

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about winding

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