Definition of helicalnext
as in spiral
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw Sirius, the brightest star in the heavens, travels a helical path through space

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of helical On a pedestal at the foot of an impressive cantilevered helical staircase stands the ornate Taca de Portugal. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 10 June 2026 The introduction of the helical tapes and the rotary head technology in the early 1950s and their ultimate dominance in the market made the original tape editing process obsolete. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 May 2026 Designed by Scott Wilson Architecture with interiors by Cherie Grisham, the residence opens with a dramatic double-height foyer capped by a 20-foot reflective ceiling and anchored by a sweeping helical staircase. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 May 2026 Quantum simulation helped reveal that the cause for the unusual topology was a helical pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect. — Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for helical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helical
Adjective
  • All four spiral slides are open to the public and allow four people to ride simultaneously from various entrances such as the family-style restaurants, the Google offices, the Rosewood Hotel, and the Arte Abierto Art Space.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • But when their increasingly dangerous scheme becomes a plan to escape their troubled families, the stakes spiral beyond their control.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Highway 12 provides for a direct — though slightly more winding and arguably more scenic — drive into the northern and eastern portions of the North Bay.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Every floor and room is dedicated to specific watch brands and timepieces, featuring bespoke details like watch-hand door handles and winding-crown faucet handles, all crafted by Florentine artisans.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Helical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helical. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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