tailspin
noun
tail·spin
ˈtāl-ˌspin 
1
2
: a mental or emotional letdown or collapse
3
: a sustained and usually severe decline or downturn
stock prices in a tailspin
Examples of tailspin in a Sentence
Stock prices are in a tailspin.
The team went into a tailspin and lost six straight games.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Canadian series has gone viral since its premiere on HBO Max, sending fans into a speculation tailspin.
—
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025
Teacher Elsa Vargas and her husband, Ham, were excited about their first pregnancy, but their daughter lived only a short time and Elsa went into a mental tailspin that alarmed her family.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 30 Nov. 2025
The tragedy sends the fragile James into a tailspin.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
George revealing this information to help gently guide Ron out of this tailspin?
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tailspin
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Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025
Teacher Elsa Vargas and her husband, Ham, were excited about their first pregnancy, but their daughter lived only a short time and Elsa went into a mental tailspin that alarmed her family.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 30 Nov. 2025
The tragedy sends the fragile James into a tailspin.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
George revealing this information to help gently guide Ron out of this tailspin?
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tailspin
Cite this Entry
“Tailspin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailspin. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tailspin
noun
tail·spin
ˈtā(ə)l-ˌspin
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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