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

While the Glee Club has yet to release their own teaser, Dunham announced the Girls revival via four-way video call with cast members Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, and Zosia Mamet that promptly sent the internet into a tailspin. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 6 Nov. 2026

With Anthropic expected to IPO sooner than later, an event that could tip the rest of the stock market into a tailspin, the question of how to cover this world without becoming an accessory to its interests feels ever more urgent. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026

How was he supposed to tell her about the bat without sending her into a tailspin? — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026

When Harry boosts a USB crypto wallet from a brazen young criminal and spoiled rich kid, Dylan (Will Price), Ben has no idea what to do with it—plugging it into his circa-1995 desktop personal computer sends the machine into a tailspin. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tailspin

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

Kids Definition

tailspin

noun

tail·​spin ˈtā(ə)l-ˌspin 

: spin entry 2 sense 3