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Definitions

tailspin

[teyl-spin] / ˈteɪlˌspɪn /
NOUN
descent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
plunge slide
STRONG
coast crash declension declination decline declivity dip downgrade droop drop drop-off fall grade gradient header hill inclination incline landslide precipitation prolapse sag settlement sinking slant slip slope swoop tumble
WEAK
cave-in coming down falling plummeting plunging sinkage topple
Antonyms
STRONG
ascent evenness increase level rise
WEAK
ascension elevation improvement upgrade

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Its after-effects have derailed her life, and an unexpected email invitation to attend a retirement party in France honoring her former lover sends her into a tailspin.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

The defense sector’s tailspin comes against the backdrop of gains heading into the conflict.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

That gummed up credit markets, tanked the value of money-market funds, and sent global stock markets into a tailspin.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

This seemed unlikely on April’s “Liberation Day,” when new tariffs sent markets into a tailspin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

A brand fly zoomed at my face, but just before it landed, a glob of sap splattered on its wings and it crashed in a tailspin.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Vocabulary lists containing tailspin

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