SPIRAL Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

spiral 1 of 3

verb

Definition of spiral

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

straighten

spiral

2 of 3

adjective

ˈspī-rəl

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

spiral

3 of 3

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 spiral

Verb

Although military and diplomatic talks resulted in a disengagement of troops between 2021 and 2024, relations spiraled downward. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026 Abandoned by his team and with nothing left, Matt seeks out a cutting edge treatment that miraculously returns him to his former self… but also unexpectedly affects his grip on reality, spiraling him down a destructive path of all-consuming revenge. — ArsTechnica, 22 July 2026

Adjective

The design of the gold dress created a spiral, fanned effect with slight ombré elements and fringe illusion work. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 14 July 2026 Greece’s financial crisis wiped out a quarter of the country’s economy, plunging it into a depression that saw poverty spiral and unemployment skyrocket to around 27%. — ABC News, 10 July 2026

Noun

Tom Brady throws a mean spiral, hitting the target to send Rob Gronkowski into 500 gallons of Raising Cane’s Sauce on July 15 in New York City. — People Staff, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 Though the country’s exports have been churning along at an extraordinary pace — China shipped a record $412 billion of goods last month — domestic consumption has sagged, leading some analysts to warn of a potential deflationary spiral. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spiral

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiral

Verb

The recent action in its RSI is confirming our bullish thesis and the MACD is curling positive, nearing a buy signal.

— Jay Woods, CNBC, 23 July 2026
The issues were printed on recycled paper, and because the house in Stromness flanked the port’s harbor, the constant wetness had slightly curled their pages.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026

Definition of curl

Adjective

But what once looked like a potential breakout career in San Francisco has instead become a winding journey through multiple organizations, with the latest chapter ending after a short stay in the Dodgers' system.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
As such, the show takes you on a winding journey of France’s influential craftsmanship and its impact on America via archival looks, dazzling objects, and more modern creations.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 29 May 2026

Definition of winding

Noun

Coordinated inquiry across pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and asset managers was especially important in compressing the learning curve.

— Martin Whittaker, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Armani’s Rondevù armchair and Rondevù vis à vis bench are defined by their fluid curves and soft, inviting cushions.

— Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 July 2026

Definition of curve

Adjective

The firms have invested billions into AI labs that, in turn, spend heavily on cloud computing from those same companies, creating what Moody's described as a circular AI ecosystem.

— Hugh Son, CNBC, 24 July 2026
Most stories of this ilk build a linear trajectory—from performance, occasionally to education, to deduction, and finally to the household—but No Name is a circular story.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

Definition of circular

Verb

Although braids wind their way into many different areas of science, from protein folding to string theory, simply cracking the century-old case was enough of a reward for the trio.

— Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
Local tensions escalated earlier this month after a group of armed men reportedly invaded the Kampa Indigenous territory, located along the winding Amonia River in the western Amazon.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026

Definition of wind

Adjective

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
Rotating the nozzle during printing adds another layer of control by writing helical molecular alignment patterns directly into the structure.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 May 2026

Definition of helical

Browse Nearby Words

spiny

spiral

spiraled

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiral. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of spiral

verb

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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