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
But what appears to be a dream opportunity unravels as JP pulls Tyler into a violent downward spiral.
—
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
That was the beginning of the whole downward spiral.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Left unchecked, this can lead to a downward spiral where insurance gets more expensive and less profitable, more companies leave, insurance gets even harder to find for customers, and the process repeats.
—Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Downtowns across the country need to find solutions, experts warn, as dark storefronts can lead to a downward spiral, with companies hesitant to lease office space in vacant areas.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downward spiral
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
That was the beginning of the whole downward spiral.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Left unchecked, this can lead to a downward spiral where insurance gets more expensive and less profitable, more companies leave, insurance gets even harder to find for customers, and the process repeats.
—Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Downtowns across the country need to find solutions, experts warn, as dark storefronts can lead to a downward spiral, with companies hesitant to lease office space in vacant areas.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 16 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 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
