tortuous (adj) - twisted; winding; marked by repeated bends or turns
BREAKDOWN: TORT (twist, turn) + -OUS (full of)
torturous, which with this word is commonly confused with, means pertaining to torture; severely painful or anguishing
“There is no sudden leap into the stratosphere. There is only advancing step by step, slowly and tortuously, up the pyramid towards your goals.” —Ben Stein