downward spiral

noun

: a situation in which something continuously decreases or gets worse

Her life was in a downward spiral as she battled depression and addiction.

Examples of downward spiral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

How the trial has gone so far Last week, Patrick Clancy testified about his ex-wife’s downward spiral, full of hospital visits and about a dozen medications to treat her insomnia, anxiety and depression. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026

These strategic missteps have led to declining traffic, sales, and profitability, pushing Sonic into a downward spiral. — Clifford Hudson, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

In this downward spiral, an unexpected encounter forces him to confront his limits. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026

To complete the stunt, the actor endured 16 hours of intensive helicopter training every day for more than a month in order to pull off the scene's difficult maneuvers and climactic downward spiral, per the Los Angeles Times. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Rhymes for downward spiral

• antiviral
• retroviral
• adenoviral
• antiretroviral
• chiral
• viral