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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiral
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Characterized by graceful, winding arms that spiral out from a bright central bulge, these systems are rich with both young and old stars, swirling gas and cosmic dust.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
In Hubble's recent image, NGC 6951 unfurls its graceful spiral arms, covered in red nebulae glowing with hydrogen gas, a key fuel for new stars.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Lyle Goldstein, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Stella’s undoing wasn’t a spiral contained to Season 4, though.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Verb
Travel hiccups, tech glitches or a conversation that spirals a lot faster than intended could easily push your buttons.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Characterized by graceful, winding arms that spiral out from a bright central bulge, these systems are rich with both young and old stars, swirling gas and cosmic dust.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
While fans may no longer watch those familiar white discs spiral across the field, the memories remain—etched in photos, in inside jokes, and in the hearts of those who once stood shoulder to shoulder, laughing as flour dust filled the West Texas air.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
In Hubble's recent image, NGC 6951 unfurls its graceful spiral arms, covered in red nebulae glowing with hydrogen gas, a key fuel for new stars.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
China has long laid claim to the island and acting on those claims could lead to a spiral where Washington and Beijing come to blows over the issue—and nuclear use would remain a terrifying possibility.
—Lyle Goldstein, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Stella’s undoing wasn’t a spiral contained to Season 4, though.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiral
Verb
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Dressed in an angelic all-white ensemble, Stewart’s hair is longer than most would recognize now and slightly curled.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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Perhaps, curled inside the turbulent virginal atmosphere, Helm dreams of being a storm, has a prophetic vision of destruction, feels a natural calling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Experts say that these legal challenges are just the beginning of what will surely be a long and winding road through the U.S. court system.—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
23 Oct. 2025
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Thake took a long and winding trip down the memories of South Yorkshire football, a path which eventually led him to the living room of a shy, almost reclusive Rotherham man called Terry Moran.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Your confidence will reach at an all-time high this winter thanks to these markdowns on curve-hugging jeans, dresses, and shirts.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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The sportscar sensibility, courtesy of Victory Design, comes from the curves in the hull, a hardtop with a full-height windshield for sun and wind protection, and four forward-facing seats at the helm.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Enormous ventilation pipes were coiled like snakes on the roof of the building.—
Ingfei Chen,
New Yorker,
22 Oct. 2025
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Anyway, because of the *slightly* complex situation with the aneurysm (nothing bad, just not typical), it wasn’t coiled that weekend.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The interior features a two-story circular foyer, natural fireplace, and a primary suite with a marble bath, according to the listing.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
3 Nov. 2025
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The collaboration brings together Coach’s heritage craftsmanship and B&V’s expertise in circular innovation.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Its eponymous flowers are deep red-orange and the foliage is composed of whorls of needle-like, silvery-blue leaves.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
7 June 2025
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In 2024, the Ig Nobel Prize in anatomy went to an international team of scientists for their discovery that scalp hair whorls are more likely to spiral in a counter-clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere compared with the Northern Hemisphere.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Solar panels, for example, can make a big difference in sustainable energy generation, and so can wind power.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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New Glenn, the towering orbital rocket that Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin designed to compete with SpaceX’s dominant Falcon rockets, is back for its second launch ever — this time with a job to send twin spacecraft on a long, winding trip to Mars.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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At night, the helical patterns look adorned with ribbons of LED lighting, transforming the bridge into a shimmering sculpture that reflects in the waters below.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
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Any irregularity or jagged appearance in the helical area typically reflects changes in the shape or integrity of the cartilage beneath.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiral. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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