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
Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 7 Sep. 2025
But then the New York Times published an article about Allan Brooks, a father and human resources recruiter in Toronto who had experienced a very similar delusional spiral in conversations with ChatGPT.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2025
But what started as a misguided attempt at connection spiraled out of control.
—EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 1 Sep. 2025
Self-spiral detection is required.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Verb
In sport organizations, where cultures are often lean, fast-moving and emotionally charged, this spiral happens quickly and expensively.
—Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 7 Sep. 2025
But then the New York Times published an article about Allan Brooks, a father and human resources recruiter in Toronto who had experienced a very similar delusional spiral in conversations with ChatGPT.
—Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
In 2022, the British prime minister backed a mini-budget featuring a raft of unfunded fiscal stimulus, spooking the City to the extent that the pound spiraled to its lowest value ever against the dollar.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2025
But what started as a misguided attempt at connection spiraled out of control.
—EW.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
Another small logarithmic jump brings us to our nearest spiral arms.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 1 Sep. 2025
Self-spiral detection is required.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiral
Verb
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Erdman said most models show Gabrielle eventually curling northward into the Atlantic.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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The Nuggets thrive on forcing defenders into impossible choices, and Johnson’s ability to drive-and-kick off curling actions adds yet another layer of stress to opponents.—
Joel Rush,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The long and winding road of The Beatles leads to a trifecta of new anniversary artifacts.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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On Beatles night at Citi Field, the Mets took a long and winding road to defeat.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Gentle sweeps and curves are better than straight rows that merely repeat the legal lines of your property boundaries.—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
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The abode is deliberately sculptural, with sweeping curves that echo the contours of the surrounding cliffs and emulate the rhythm of the Mediterranean below.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The skunk with distemper is stuck in the window well again, chewing incessantly on the garden hose that is coiled up in there.—
Miriam Toews
September 3,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
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Inside each 13-centimeter-long rectangular 8-track cartridge is a loop of almost 1 cm-wide magnetic tape that is coiled around a circular reel, as explained in an EverPresent blog post on the technology.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Kappahl offers secondhand clothing, across all categories, online in Sweden through circular software partner reCRQL, with further expansion plans on the horizon.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
8 Sep. 2025
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As per the press release, these included small, circular protrusions or bumps, elliptical protrusions with a fingerprint-like pattern, and a third set of large, round marks.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Sep. 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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The in-house caliber 113, a hand-wound movement with a 10-day power reserve, also drives a patented nonlinear power reserve indicator that appears to slow down as the time to wind approaches.—
Carol Besler,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Usually, a pair of scissors or a knife can cut through whatever is wound around it.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This helical strand of molecules allows for information contained in DNA in the nucleus of cells to be delivered to ribosomes where protein synthesis can occur.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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Bless Volkswagen for keeping the helical gears turning, both literally and figuratively.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiral. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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