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

• 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

But modern-day challenges have forced leaders into a tailspin and turned leadership into a losing game. —Dr. Adil Dalal, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

The potential appointment of Stephen Miran , a Trump nominee who has his Senate Banking Committee hearing scheduled on Sept. 4, could also throw Wall Street into a tailspin next week. —Sarah Min, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025

Wisconsin wants to start a new string of bowl appearances after allowing its streak of 22 straight winning season to end with a late tailspin a year ago. —Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025

However, when his ex-wife, Rachel (Claire Danes), drops their two children off with him in the middle of the night and then disappears, Toby's world is sent into a tailspin. —James Mercadante, People.com, 27 Aug. 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