tailspin

noun

tail·​spin ˈtāl-ˌspin How to pronounce tailspin (audio)
Synonyms of tailspinnext
1
: spin sense 2a
2
: a mental or emotional letdown or collapse
3
: a sustained and usually severe decline or downturn
stock prices in a tailspin

Synonyms of tailspin

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Examples of tailspin in a Sentence

Stock prices are in a tailspin. The team went into a tailspin and lost six straight games.
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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.
Among those affected, nearly a third had already cut staff by mid-year, with the tailspin still to correct itself. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 13 May 2026 Heck, even chores like grocery shopping and filling up on gas are enough to send me into a tailspin after looking at the bill. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 1 June 2026 That is, until a conversation about having children throws their relationship into a tailspin. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 May 2026 These households and individuals are employed, earn above the poverty level, and may still be one unexpected expense away from a financial tailspin. — Daisy Franklin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tailspin

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailspin was in 1917

Rhymes for tailspin

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Browse Nearby Words

tailslide
tailspin
tail spindle
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Cite this Entry

“Tailspin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailspin. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tailspin

Nglish: Translation of tailspin for Spanish Speakers

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