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
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Although widely recognized as perhaps the greatest golfer of all time, Woods, 50, has been in a downward spiral personally and professionally for years.
—
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
One of those incidents sparked a downward spiral in both their personal lives and their careers on screen.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026
In the meantime, Steffy's pain subsides, but her dependence on the medication grows, leading to a desperate downward spiral into full-throttle addiction.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
But what appears to be a dream opportunity unravels as JP pulls Tyler into a violent downward spiral.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downward spiral
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Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
One of those incidents sparked a downward spiral in both their personal lives and their careers on screen.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026
In the meantime, Steffy's pain subsides, but her dependence on the medication grows, leading to a desperate downward spiral into full-throttle addiction.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
But what appears to be a dream opportunity unravels as JP pulls Tyler into a violent downward spiral.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Mar. 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 15 Apr. 2026.
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