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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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 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 Everything Ignore the recent tailspin to recognize what has been one of the greatest turnarounds this century. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 The vision of her administering fertility shots in the green room before going on air to discuss her future political career sent the internet in a tailspin. — Dr. Jaime Knopman, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tailspin

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tailspin

breakdown

Noun

Here’s a breakdown of the streaming platforms offering ABC for Grey’s Anatomy Season 23.

— Sophie Dunne, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
On June 11, WSU’s director of financial reporting asked Masterson for a breakdown of GoCreate’s software costs for the FY26 university audit.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of breakdown

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tails (off)

tailspin

tailspins

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“Tailspin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tailspin. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tailspin

noun

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