as in coils
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 spirals
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
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
Verb
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
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
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
-
Missouri curves Walking across the old Chain of Rocks Bridge gave everyone a chance to stretch their legs.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
-
In fact, the only way astronomers know dark matter exists is via its interaction with gravity and the way this interaction curves spacetime, indirectly influencing ordinary matter and light.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Where to Stay Kinjohro, a 130-year-old ryokan that winds around a lush garden, is the perfect place to immerse yourself in local history.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
The Bolt winds back and dives like a roller coaster, shooting downward at a vertiginous 85 degrees.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Devoid of facial hair but sporting golden curls, the cherubic Parsons meets me at a Hollywood hotel’s courtyard restaurant in April just a few days after putting the final touches on his movie.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
Streisand also embraced her natural curls for the event.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 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
-
Off Campus uses the messy lives of these athletes to explore romance tropes like fake-dating plots, enemies-to-lovers twists, secret relationships, and more.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2026
-
The 52-year-old actress was the picture of elegance in a black gown that featured some twists by way of a one-arm design, cascading shoulder detail, dangerously high slit that soared up to her hip, cinched waist, and two huge floral appliqués.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spirals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spirals. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
