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

Chargers star Khalil Mack could be an option should Los Angeles continue its tailspin after starting 0-4. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026

The Oscar nominee plays a woman whose life is turned upside down after the death of her mother, sending everyone into a terrifying tailspin. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026

Affleck plays a Los Angeles mayoral candidate who is thrown into a tailspin when his son is kidnapped. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

The biggest takeaway from the season was that too much change in such a short amount of time is a good way to throw a team into a tailspin. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 Sep. 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