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
Payday lenders are notorious for trapping borrowers in a cycle of debt, often forcing borrowers to take out additional loans to cover the first, and putting families in a downward spiral.
—
Christopher Greenwood, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
And unfortunately, a downward spiral is also self-propelling.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
The Kansas City Comets’ season has slowly taken a downward spiral, with the team losing for the third time in four games in a 9-7 road defeat on March 6 against the Tacoma Stars.
—Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Pareidolia, her latest release, is the singer’s exploration of a downward spiral.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downward spiral
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Christopher Greenwood, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
And unfortunately, a downward spiral is also self-propelling.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
The Kansas City Comets’ season has slowly taken a downward spiral, with the team losing for the third time in four games in a 9-7 road defeat on March 6 against the Tacoma Stars.
—Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Pareidolia, her latest release, is the singer’s exploration of a downward spiral.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
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 16 Mar. 2026.
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