tailspin

noun

tail·​spin ˈtāl-ˌspin 

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

• breakdown

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

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

His distance from Henry was painfully emphasized when his son got in trouble for bullying another classmate, and the idea of Michelle (Andrea Anders) getting engaged to someone else sent him into a tailspin. — Rachel Labonte, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tailspin

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• crankpin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin

Kids Definition

tailspin

noun

tail·​spin ˈtā(ə)l-ˌspin 

: spin entry 2 sense 3