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
In the most severe scenario, this downward spiral might even raise the possibility of a U.S. debt default that would create market turmoil exceeding that of the 2008-2009 financial crisis.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
The secondary aim is to stop what’s undeniably been a downward spiral.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2025
From around 2006 to 2010, a series of major business downturns, including a bankruptcy filing and several key lawsuits, led Kinkade into a downward spiral of troubling public behavior and substance abuse.
—Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Names across the technology sector have been on a downward spiral.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downward spiral
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Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
The secondary aim is to stop what’s undeniably been a downward spiral.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2025
From around 2006 to 2010, a series of major business downturns, including a bankruptcy filing and several key lawsuits, led Kinkade into a downward spiral of troubling public behavior and substance abuse.
—Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Names across the technology sector have been on a downward spiral.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downward spiral
Cite this Entry
“Downward spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downward%20spiral. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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