tailspin

noun

tail·​spin ˈtāl-ˌspin How to pronounce tailspin (audio)
Synonyms of tailspinnext
1
2
: a mental or emotional letdown or collapse
3
: a sustained and usually severe decline or downturn
stock prices in a tailspin

Examples of tailspin in a Sentence

Stock prices are in a tailspin. The team went into a tailspin and lost six straight games.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Another cousin, the son of my industrialist uncle, has given up regattas and the hedonist’s life for a position in his father’s company that is, like all companies in Turkey, faltering under the tremendous burden of an economy in tailspin. Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026 Advertisement But economists warn more structural reform is required to truly arrest Thailand’s economic tailspin. Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Feb. 2026 Then, Spurs embarked on an astonishing tailspin through the WSL table from sixth to 11th, a 10-game winless run that ended in tears on the pitch at Everton’s Walton Hall Park after a 1-1 draw, for the simple fact that the season was finally over. Megan Feringa, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026 This immediately sends Kenya into a tailspin that, on some level, is unfair. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tailspin

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tailspin was in 1917

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tailspin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailspin. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

tailspin

noun
tail·​spin ˈtā(ə)l-ˌspin How to pronounce tailspin (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on tailspin

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster