tailspin

noun

tail·​spin ˈtāl-ˌspin 

1

: spin sense 2a

2

: a mental or emotional letdown or collapse

3

: a sustained and usually severe decline or downturn

stock prices in a tailspin

Synonyms of tailspin

• breakdown

Examples of tailspin in a Sentence

Stock prices are in a tailspin.

The team went into a tailspin and lost six straight games.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Vikes are in a tailspin after last week's blowout loss to the Chargers. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025

The torrent of billion-dollar investment announcements related to artificial intelligence has raised fears that the economy is sitting on a bubble that, if popped, could send it into a tailspin. —Rob Wile, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025

Because if this tailspin continues, the offseason changes within the organization could be wide-reaching. —Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025

The rejection sends Frankenstein’s monster into a tailspin of isolation and misery. —Jon Michael Varese, The Atlantic, 28 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tailspin

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin
• pinyin

Kids Definition

tailspin

noun

tail·​spin ˈtā(ə)l-ˌspin 

: spin entry 2 sense 3