TAILSPIN Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

tailspin

noun

ˈtāl-ˌspin

Definition of tailspin

as in breakdown

a mental or nervous collapse the pressures of his job nearly caused him to go into a tailspin

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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 tailspin The Oscar nominee plays a woman whose life is turned upside down after the death of her mother, sending everyone into a terrifying tailspin. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Affleck plays a Los Angeles mayoral candidate who is thrown into a tailspin when his son is kidnapped. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026 The biggest takeaway from the season was that too much change in such a short amount of time is a good way to throw a team into a tailspin. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 Sep. 2026 With the Hollywood studio system headed for a tailspin, could now be the time for midnight movies to come out of the dark and into the marquee lights? — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tailspin

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tailspin

breakdown

Noun

The breakdown Organic revenues for Prada Group — parent company to Prada, Church’s, Miu Miu, and Versace — rose 1% year-on-year on a constant currency basis in the third quarter of 2026.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
Somewhere, there was a breakdown in communication on Wednesday following the firing of Locksley.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of breakdown

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tails (off)

tailspin

tailspins

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Style

“Tailspin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tailspin. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tailspin

noun

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