tailspin

noun

tail·​spin ˈtāl-ˌspin How to pronounce tailspin (audio)
Synonyms of tailspinnext
1
2
: a mental or emotional letdown or collapse
3
: a sustained and usually severe decline or downturn
stock prices in a tailspin

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
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.
These households and individuals are employed, earn above the poverty level, and may still be one unexpected expense away from a financial tailspin. Daisy Franklin, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026 Doncic trade still reverberating as Mavs hit reset Kidd's tenure took a sharp downturn after the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers following their NBA Finals run, a franchise‑altering move that sent the organization into a tailspin. Doug Myers, CBS News, 20 May 2026 Beijing also made a clear warning that the Taiwan issue would be a determining factor that could push the bilateral ties into a tailspin. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 15 May 2026 Monday’s announcement sent logistics stocks in a tailspin, with GXO shares plummeting more than 17 percent during the day. Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tailspin

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailspin was in 1917

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tailspin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailspin. Accessed 28 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

tailspin

noun
tail·​spin ˈtā(ə)l-ˌspin How to pronounce tailspin (audio)

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