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 bride’s shocking personal revelation triggers her maid of honor and sends the groom into a tailspin, igniting wedding reception chaos that overshadows their characters’ union from the start.
—
Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
The Blue Jackets had sputtered along offensively for more than two weeks, scoring only 16 goals during a 2-7-1 tailspin that knocked them out of a playoff spot.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
In the film, Zendaya's Emma reveals her deepest, darkest secret to her fiancé, which sends their relationship and upcoming wedding into a tailspin.
—Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
If Miami continues its late season tailspin and finishes with a worse record than the Western Conference teams that lose in the play-in, the Heat could rise to the 11th lottery seed (unlikely) or 12th seed.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tailspin
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Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
The Blue Jackets had sputtered along offensively for more than two weeks, scoring only 16 goals during a 2-7-1 tailspin that knocked them out of a playoff spot.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026
In the film, Zendaya's Emma reveals her deepest, darkest secret to her fiancé, which sends their relationship and upcoming wedding into a tailspin.
—Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
If Miami continues its late season tailspin and finishes with a worse record than the Western Conference teams that lose in the play-in, the Heat could rise to the 11th lottery seed (unlikely) or 12th seed.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tailspin
Cite this Entry
“Tailspin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailspin. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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tailspin
noun
tail·spin
ˈtā(ə)l-ˌspin
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