variants
or spiralled
as in curled
to follow a circular or spiral course
a narrow road spiraling up the mountain to the summit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 spiraled
As the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the enclave spiralled, Ghanem and hundreds of other KCL students felt compelled to act.
—
Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
But instead of prioritizing touching the paint then spraying the ball out to an open shooter, the Knicks have spiraled into iso-ball, over-dribbling and tough shots.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
In classic early-'80s fashion, both icons sport tight, spiraled, permed curls, while Parton’s signature long red acrylic fingernails extend over Richards' open hand.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 19 Jan. 2026
The protests in Iran began two weeks ago in Tehran’s bazaars over rampant inflation, but have since spiraled into wider demonstrations against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his regime, which has ruled the country since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Directed by two-time Olivier Award winner Rupert Goold, the play revisits the true story of a Brooklyn bank robbery that spiraled out of control and transfixed the nation.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
As tit-for-tat tariffs spiraled, both countries eased their rhetoric in a bid to avoid wanton economic destruction.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
In turn, inflation spiraled even higher, at one point reaching 85 percent.
—Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Ackerman and Tate spent time together at a bar and eventually returned home, where the situation spiraled, the lawsuit said.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 21 Dec. 2025
Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
But instead of prioritizing touching the paint then spraying the ball out to an open shooter, the Knicks have spiraled into iso-ball, over-dribbling and tough shots.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
In classic early-'80s fashion, both icons sport tight, spiraled, permed curls, while Parton’s signature long red acrylic fingernails extend over Richards' open hand.
—Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 19 Jan. 2026
The protests in Iran began two weeks ago in Tehran’s bazaars over rampant inflation, but have since spiraled into wider demonstrations against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his regime, which has ruled the country since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Directed by two-time Olivier Award winner Rupert Goold, the play revisits the true story of a Brooklyn bank robbery that spiraled out of control and transfixed the nation.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
As tit-for-tat tariffs spiraled, both countries eased their rhetoric in a bid to avoid wanton economic destruction.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
In turn, inflation spiraled even higher, at one point reaching 85 percent.
—Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Ackerman and Tate spent time together at a bar and eventually returned home, where the situation spiraled, the lawsuit said.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 21 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiraled
Verb
-
Brontë shared a video on her Instagram of her daughter Zelly, who was curled on the couch chowing down on a frozen bag of breast milk.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Edebiri wore a face-framing layer curled over her forehead for an Art Deco effect, with a few flippy layers at her ends to add movement.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The lights, neatly coiled last January, have evolved into a glowing knot of holiday resentment.—
Mark Glende,
Twin Cities,
24 Dec. 2025
-
Enormous ventilation pipes were coiled like snakes on the roof of the building.—
Ingfei Chen,
New Yorker,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Fashion lovers, celebrities, and stylists alike are fans of this polished shoulder bag, thanks to its durable leather, curved top handle, and flat base.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
15 Dec. 2025
-
Additive manufacturing allows load-bearing structures to follow curved, organic geometries dictated by optimization algorithms rather than the straight ribs and stringers of traditional airframes.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiraled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiraled. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
