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
Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The series follows an upstanding family man who spirals into a life of crime after killing someone in a bicycle accident, driven by the noble but futile goal of never hurting anyone ever again.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 May 2026
The tower was designed by the British architecture firm RMJM and features a twisting glass façade that spirals upward into a needle-like spire.
—Nathalie Nietzsche-Knappe, Architectural Digest, 7 Apr. 2026
Sure, the stars move relative to one another, our Sun burns through a little more of its fuel, and the Moon slowly spirals away from the Earth as our rotation rate gradually slows down.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Inside, a central ramp—which spirals upward and outward from one exhibition floor to the next—creates an open interior space, flooded with daylight that pours in through a glass dome.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
Inspired by true events, The Exiles will tell the story of a desperate Westerner who pursues greener pastures in Asia, instead finding greed, rivalry and ego that ultimately spirals into a shocking murder.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
That is, at least until life spirals you into the next higher tier of the lesson.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
Claire Foy plays Helen, who spirals emotionally after the death of her photographer father, Alisdair (Brendan Gleeson).
—Adam Graham, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
Before too long, however, the romantic spell Nikki is under turns into possessive, obsessive and eventually, deadly behavior, which quickly spirals out of control.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
The series follows an upstanding family man who spirals into a life of crime after killing someone in a bicycle accident, driven by the noble but futile goal of never hurting anyone ever again.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 May 2026
The tower was designed by the British architecture firm RMJM and features a twisting glass façade that spirals upward into a needle-like spire.
—Nathalie Nietzsche-Knappe, Architectural Digest, 7 Apr. 2026
Sure, the stars move relative to one another, our Sun burns through a little more of its fuel, and the Moon slowly spirals away from the Earth as our rotation rate gradually slows down.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Inside, a central ramp—which spirals upward and outward from one exhibition floor to the next—creates an open interior space, flooded with daylight that pours in through a glass dome.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
Inspired by true events, The Exiles will tell the story of a desperate Westerner who pursues greener pastures in Asia, instead finding greed, rivalry and ego that ultimately spirals into a shocking murder.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
That is, at least until life spirals you into the next higher tier of the lesson.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026
Claire Foy plays Helen, who spirals emotionally after the death of her photographer father, Alisdair (Brendan Gleeson).
—Adam Graham, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spirals
Verb
-
When startled, the snake coils its body into a figure-eight shape or raises its tail to mimic another head and confuse predators.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
Dry all surfaces completely and replace knobs, drip pans, and coils back on the stove.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Part science fiction, part Willy Wonka, all ice and curves and colours.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
-
Touge races, in which players drift down the winding curves of a mountain like Takumi Fujiwara in his Toyota AE86.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The climb winds through cedar forest and switchbacks into remote Berber villages where the architecture grows out of the rock and days are timed to the sheep and the seasons.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
23 May 2026
-
Also on-site, the picturesque Fairy Trail winds its way through the West Lawn's woodlands.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
The tight braids trailed over the left of her head before forming a double loop and running back toward the forest of curls behind her.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
-
The mom-of-two styled her waist-length caramel hair in a middle part with cascading voluminous curls that framed her face.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The galaxy's heart shines brightly in the image, with gleaming rays of light radiating from its center while gas and dust swirls around.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
19 May 2026
-
Longoria’s approach to the wild fervour that continually swirls around the Velodrome was to try to harness it by hiring comparably combustible coaches like Jorge Sampaoli, Igor Tudor, Gennaro Gattuso and De Zerbi.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
They’re never getting rid of the over-saturation of idols and advantages and twists.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
-
The procedural twists and turns have been closely watched by city residents and Little Village community members who protested and mourned in the wake of Toledo’s shooting.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spirals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirals. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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