Synonyms of tailspin

tailspin

noun

ˈtāl-ˌspin 

as in breakdown

a mental or nervous collapse

the pressures of his job nearly caused him to go into a tailspin

Synonyms & Similar Words

• breakdown
• nervous breakdown
• disturbance
• crack-up
• anxiety
• meltdown
• freak-out
• excitability
• nervousness
• agitation
• disquiet
• perturbation
• alarm
• frazzle
• apprehension
• basket case
• discomposure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• composure
• calmness
• serenity
• coolness
• tranquility
• aplomb
• placidity
• imperturbability
• tranquilness
• sereneness
• self-possession

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tailspin

This sense of optimism fluctuated significantly until June 2023, when the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Biden’s first attempt at relieving student loan debt sent public opinion into a tailspin. — Paxton Honerkamp, CNBC, 2 July 2026

Heck, even chores like grocery shopping and filling up on gas are enough to send me into a tailspin after looking at the bill. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 1 June 2026

That is, until a conversation about having children throws their relationship into a tailspin. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 May 2026

As injuries to their pitching staff pile up and players desperately try to pull themselves out of a tailspin, the Chicago Cubs sent Jordan Wicks out to the mound Tuesday night. — Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 27 May 2026