as in falling
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
the local economy skidded when the last manufacturing plant moved away
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Recent Examples of skidding
After skidding into the All-Star break on a six-game losing streak — and losing nine of their last 10 games — the Bulls have taken a sharp turn in strategy to close the 2025-26 season.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
What to do if your car starts skidding If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, the DMV said, ease your foot off the gas to slow down gradually and avoid slamming on the brakes.
—Sacbee.com, 19 Feb. 2026
While the snow blanketed the late-evening sky deep in the Italian Alps, and one after another, the best female snowboarders on the planet kept slipping, skidding and crashing out, Chloe Kim wrestled with her shot at history.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Downhill racers may relish the speed, but cross-country skis don’t have metal edges like downhill skis do, so step-turning or skidding around fast, icy corners can make an athlete feel out of control.
—Agnes MacY, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
Video on social media showed cars skidding out of control after police waved them around a wreck on Independence Boulevard.
—Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2026
Video of the landing shows the plane skidding down the runway accompanied by smoke and flames.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Ease off the gas pedal and brakes, and turn in the direction the car is skidding.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 26 Jan. 2026
Steering in the opposite direction could mean skidding or spinning out.
—Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
What to do if your car starts skidding If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, the DMV said, ease your foot off the gas to slow down gradually and avoid slamming on the brakes.
—Sacbee.com, 19 Feb. 2026
While the snow blanketed the late-evening sky deep in the Italian Alps, and one after another, the best female snowboarders on the planet kept slipping, skidding and crashing out, Chloe Kim wrestled with her shot at history.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Downhill racers may relish the speed, but cross-country skis don’t have metal edges like downhill skis do, so step-turning or skidding around fast, icy corners can make an athlete feel out of control.
—Agnes MacY, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
Video on social media showed cars skidding out of control after police waved them around a wreck on Independence Boulevard.
—Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2026
Video of the landing shows the plane skidding down the runway accompanied by smoke and flames.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Ease off the gas pedal and brakes, and turn in the direction the car is skidding.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 26 Jan. 2026
Steering in the opposite direction could mean skidding or spinning out.
—Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skidding
Verb
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Last week, the Washington State Department of Health halted the recreational and commercial harvest of clams, oysters and mussels in Drayton Harbor after receiving multiple reports of people falling ill after consuming raw shellfish from the area.—
Jasmine Mendez
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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In the meantime, racecourse attendances remain below pre-pandemic levels and the industry’s costs are rising, while betting revenue is falling.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The tumbling Jazz, sitting their best players — injured and healthy — proved that again late Monday night in Utah by beating Golden State 119-116.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
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Markets reacted swiftly, with Dow futures tumbling 900 points.—
Nur Hikmah Md Ali,
CNBC,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the waist − and the base of a plunging neckline − is a constellation of orange, pink and deep purple jewels.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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Oil had suddenly skyrocketed to just shy of $120 a barrel and stock futures were plunging as the war raged in the Middle East.—
Denitsa Tsekova,
Bloomberg,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a season where the top tier has separated itself from everyone else, Michigan has unfailingly remained consistent, never dipping lower than seventh in the nation (its preseason ranking).—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
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This week the New York Times reported how the Metropolitan Opera — the world’s largest performing arts institution — is bleeding money, and dipping into its endowment to make up for sagging ticket sales.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And the financial incentive for workers to take the leap to a new job has been steadily declining for years, as employees cling to their roles and hiring stagnates.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
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For city officials, the agreement marks the most significant progress yet in their efforts to see the Sunrise Mall redeveloped from a declining retail center into a vibrant, mixed-use property with housing, entertainment and hotels.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That this will result in skyrocketing energy prices that send the world economy plummeting into a deep recession.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
8 Mar. 2026
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At a time when thousands of local newspapers across the nation have folded in the face of plummeting web traffic, advertising losses and shifting reader habits, the rebirth of a community news outlet is rare.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And the Lancers found their shooting touch, hitting 9-of-13 from the field, including dropping three 3s to take a 32-21 halftime lead.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
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Traffic through the critical waterway has since ground to a near halt, with vessels being attacked and insurers dropping maritime coverage.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Here's a closer look at the court’s sinking poll numbers.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
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The purposeful kicks counter her body’s buoyancy, bringing her down to about 30 feet, then to neutral buoyancy for 10 more feet, and, finally, to negative buoyancy—or freefall, sinking—below 50 to 60 feet.—
Stella Fong,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skidding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skidding. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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