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
Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
The latest Middle East conflict continues spiraling days after Israel and the US launched their joint operation on Iran, killing more than 1,000 people, triggering retaliatory strikes on Israel and neighboring Gulf states and plunging the region into fear and uncertainty.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Try the spinach and artichoke escargot — a flaky, rich, bready spiral — for a savory snack.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Yasmin's descent into a personal and financial spiral in the wake of Charles' sudden death—and the ensuing scandal surrounding his exposure as a scammer who embezzled millions from his own company—also mirrors talking points from Maxwell's life.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Verb
This prompts Byron to spiral and shift his priorities.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
The latest Middle East conflict continues spiraling days after Israel and the US launched their joint operation on Iran, killing more than 1,000 people, triggering retaliatory strikes on Israel and neighboring Gulf states and plunging the region into fear and uncertainty.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Cuevas remembers the wins, the journey and the spiral — Penix, as a lefty, threw a distinct ball that tails away from pass-catchers.
—Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Try the spinach and artichoke escargot — a flaky, rich, bready spiral — for a savory snack.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
The Subaru Telescope image shows NGC 941 as a bright blue spiral.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Yasmin's descent into a personal and financial spiral in the wake of Charles' sudden death—and the ensuing scandal surrounding his exposure as a scammer who embezzled millions from his own company—also mirrors talking points from Maxwell's life.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiral
Verb
-
If your shrubs have distorted, yellowing, or curling leaves or their growth seems stunted, take a close look.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
4 Mar. 2026
-
This Eyelash Curler Will Change Your Life If the eyes are the windows to the soul, the lids are the squeegees, and the lashes are the squeegee handles, and, girl, those handles had better be curled.—
Fiona Landers,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And through the dark, winding path of grief came a quaint, bright pink house nestled between a local home goods store and a vintage clothing shop on Parkville’s historic Main Street — creating a stark contrast from the deep sorrow Kincaid and her husband, Michael, felt inside.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
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Cherry unveiled like a mood overture: Every winding synth line, chopped vocal shard, and sudden genre swerve felt like a distinct scene—time-traveling without losing a grip on the floor.—
Gio Santiago,
Pitchfork,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This Madewell pair is made from high-quality denim with a subtle stretch to hug your curves and ensure all-day comfort.—
Jordan Julian,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
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Every other team in the NBA gets graded on a curve; bad breaks and reasonable expectations are accounted for in the score at season’s end.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The form recalls the work’s titular gastropod—massive, coiled, immobilized by its own weight.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
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Sula’s head rested on her arm, an undone braid coiled around her wrist.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The project’s ultimate blueprint calls for a massive, kilometer-wide circular power station in geostationary orbit, 36,000 kilometers (22,370 miles) above Earth.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
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Begin by dusting the furniture, and then apply a small amount of coconut oil with a clean, dry cloth using a circular motion.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2026
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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Nearby, Hollywood Bus Tours winds through Los Angeles’ famous movie lots and upscale neighborhoods, a must-do for many visitors.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
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Other details on the interiors are scarce (for now), but Lazzara says the focus onboard is not about extravagance, but design continuity throughout each and every space on the new vessel—and having enough space to truly wind, too.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The two twisted helical stair stringers that support the treads are the structural beams that support the stairs and anyone going up and down them.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
3 Jan. 2026
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The team designed a soft, airless wheel that features elastic steel strips in a woven, crossed-helical pattern.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiral. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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