tailspin
noun
tail·spin
ˈtāl-ˌspin 
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
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
The demoralizing loss sent the Lakers into a three-game tailspin just a couple weeks before the playoffs.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
As the investigation deepened, the news coverage became more grotesque, sending Michael into a medical tailspin.
—Steven Gray, Time, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tailspin
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.
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
The demoralizing loss sent the Lakers into a three-game tailspin just a couple weeks before the playoffs.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
As the investigation deepened, the news coverage became more grotesque, sending Michael into a medical tailspin.
—Steven Gray, Time, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tailspin
Cite this Entry
“Tailspin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailspin. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tailspin
noun
tail·spin
ˈtā(ə)l-ˌspin
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
