as in coils
to follow a circular or spiral course
a narrow road spiraling up the mountain to the summit
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Recent Examples of spirals
Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
However, the companion star eventually spirals close enough to the black hole to be spaghettified by its immense gravitational influence.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
The Chair Company is an HBO series about a project manager who spirals down a conspiracy rabbit hole after an embarrassing incident at work.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025
Ibsen’s play takes place in George and Hedda’s front room over a two-day period, and the only nighttime debauchery happens offstage at one of Judge Brack’s bachelor parties, which spirals out of control when Lovborg gets into a fight at a brothel and loses his manuscript on the walk back to town.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Russell, for her part, can match Sewell’s intensity without uttering a word, as in a scene where Kate silently unpins her hair while Hal spirals out over Grace’s VP offer.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
The thriller centers on Yura Ivalu (Lambe), an ambitious Inuk multimedia artist who spirals out of control when an estranged childhood friend, Sesi Ilupaalik, played by Qaunaq, resurfaces.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
Wright plays the overprotective mother Laura Sanderson in the Amazon Prime series, The Girlfriend, who spirals when her son Daniel (Laurie Davidson) brings home his new mysterious girlfriend Cherry (Olivia Cooke).
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
However, the companion star eventually spirals close enough to the black hole to be spaghettified by its immense gravitational influence.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
The Chair Company is an HBO series about a project manager who spirals down a conspiracy rabbit hole after an embarrassing incident at work.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Dec. 2025
Ibsen’s play takes place in George and Hedda’s front room over a two-day period, and the only nighttime debauchery happens offstage at one of Judge Brack’s bachelor parties, which spirals out of control when Lovborg gets into a fight at a brothel and loses his manuscript on the walk back to town.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Russell, for her part, can match Sewell’s intensity without uttering a word, as in a scene where Kate silently unpins her hair while Hal spirals out over Grace’s VP offer.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
The thriller centers on Yura Ivalu (Lambe), an ambitious Inuk multimedia artist who spirals out of control when an estranged childhood friend, Sesi Ilupaalik, played by Qaunaq, resurfaces.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirals
Verb
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Dry all surfaces completely and replace knobs, drip pans, and coils back on the stove.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain is getting a $400 million makeover with a facade featuring neon blue undulating curves.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
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Its serpentine curves have entranced drivers for decades, and even lured some to their death.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Preliminary work already is underway at Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County for an $18 million project that will include the first major improvements in three decades to a 13-mile trail system that winds through sandstone canyons and bluffs along the Illinois River.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
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The region has been battered in recent days by Santa Ana winds, the Southern California phenomenon that can topple trees and power lines.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Her long dirty blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders in loose curls.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
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The actress’ blond hair was styled with soft curls and fringe to frame her face.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To load the product onto the brush, Barnes swirls the tool into the pan twice and taps it twice to prevent fallout.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
12 Dec. 2025
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The lights are dim and jazzy music swirls the intimate crowd.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The telenovella follows a woman who is about to get married, while also being in love with another man, and includes several plot twists, cleverly woven intermingled with scenes of the country’s landmark destinations and informative safety instructions for flight passengers.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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To say much more would spoil the play’s twists.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spirals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirals. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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