as in to curl
to follow a circular or spiral course
a narrow road spiraling up the mountain to the summit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in winding
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw
a spiral staircase takes visitors up into the Statue of Liberty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiral
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Estimates for the cost of new septic systems and protective seawalls have spiraled to $500,000 and considerably more, homeowners say.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2025
The center of the floor filled and so did each floor of the spiral ramp.
—Essence, 5 May 2025
Shannon Adducci, Robb Report, 5 May 2025
The international community must remain alive to the reality that the onus of escalatory spiral and its ensuing consequences shall squarely lie with India.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Verb
Most of these were paused days later amid strong backlash and a spiraling stock market.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Estimates for the cost of new septic systems and protective seawalls have spiraled to $500,000 and considerably more, homeowners say.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
Adjective
In the cremation burial, researchers also discovered a small vase painted with red bands and spiral patterns.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2025
The center of the floor filled and so did each floor of the spiral ramp.
—Essence, 5 May 2025
Noun
LaLa Anthony in Lorraine Schwartz The Met Gala’s Vogue livestream host paired her archival Off-White by Virgil Abloh look with nearly 90 carats of diamonds from Lorraine Schwartz, including a pair of spiral up-the-ear climbers, a wraparound cuff and ring, and a diamond brooch worn in her hair.
—Shannon Adducci, Robb Report, 5 May 2025
The international community must remain alive to the reality that the onus of escalatory spiral and its ensuing consequences shall squarely lie with India.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiral
Verb
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As the aphids feed on the new leaves and twigs, leaves curl and twigs twist in response to aphid feeding on the sap.—
Pamm Cooper,
Hartford Courant,
10 May 2025
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The musician completed the look with bombshell platinum blonde hair, which was curled into light rings.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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After the afternoon prayers, the thunderstorm fading into the distance, a group of girls takes a winding cobblestone path through a thin area of woods and approaches a greenhouse.—
Lindsey McGinnis,
Christian Science Monitor,
1 May 2025
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Black Sands’ 12 teak bungalows are just steps from the beach, connected by a winding wooden boardwalk.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Allow Interns To Contribute To Meaningful Projects Junior associates bring fresh perspectives, new ideas and a familiarity with the latest technologies that can help organizations stay ahead of the curve.—
Anne St. Peter,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
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Burned by years of inaction on social media, lawmakers in both parties want to get ahead of the curve on AI.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Verb
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And five seconds after that, Williams has his long arms coiled around the bigger boy like a python on a piglet.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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With a Hall of Fame-caliber resume, the apex predator appears coiled and ready to strike at his next challenger, John Cena, this Saturday (May 10), at Backlash in Orton’s hometown of St. Louis.—
Carl Lamarre,
Billboard,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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Add egg mixture, and cook, stirring gently and scraping bottom of skillet in a circular motion using a rubber spatula, until large curds begin to form and bare spots appear on bottom of skillet, about 45 seconds.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
11 May 2025
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Its monumental circular tower, the largest in the region, boasts ingenious features such as notches designed to pour hot date syrup on invaders.—
Natasha Amar,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Noun
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Other rare finds at the site include a small bronze panther, a mosaic glass spindle whorl, and a tuff — or rock — votive, according to the release.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2025
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The curves and whorls of the 3,000-pound bronze monument evoke billowing sails, crashing waves, and, more abstractly, two hands reaching toward each other.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This winding road to diagnosis, although uncertain and unpredictable, has taught me to continue speaking up and pushing for answers.—
Racquel H. Dozier,
Health,
14 May 2025
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With the exception of the occasional shepherd, those winding roads are now empty for cyclists.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside Online,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Nelson’s team can use its magnets to control a helical microrobot with magnetic fields of less than 10 millitesla, a fraction of what’s created in an MRI.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
1 June 2015
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Unlike standard laser beams that propagate straight, vortex beams twist along their axis, creating a helical wavefront with a distinct ‘null intensity’ region at the center.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiral. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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