downward spiral
noun
: a situation in which something continuously decreases or gets worse
Her life was in a downward spiral as she battled depression and addiction.
Examples of downward spiral in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the meantime, Steffy's pain subsides, but her dependence on the medication grows, leading to a desperate downward spiral into full-throttle addiction.
—
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
But what appears to be a dream opportunity unravels as JP pulls Tyler into a violent downward spiral.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
That was the beginning of the whole downward spiral.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Left unchecked, this can lead to a downward spiral where insurance gets more expensive and less profitable, more companies leave, insurance gets even harder to find for customers, and the process repeats.
—Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downward spiral
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Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026
But what appears to be a dream opportunity unravels as JP pulls Tyler into a violent downward spiral.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
That was the beginning of the whole downward spiral.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Left unchecked, this can lead to a downward spiral where insurance gets more expensive and less profitable, more companies leave, insurance gets even harder to find for customers, and the process repeats.
—Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downward spiral
Cite this Entry
“Downward spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downward%20spiral. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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