as in to curl
to follow a circular or spiral course
a narrow road spiraling up the mountain to the summit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in winding
turning around an axis like the thread of a screw
a spiral staircase takes visitors up into the Statue of Liberty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiral
Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024
Now, the Warriors have spiraled to 10th in the Western Conference after losing 11 of their past 14 games — including a Christmas Day classic with the Lakers.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 Dec. 2024
Mark Scolforo, arkansasonline.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Separate notes in a spiral notebook allegedly found on Mangione included to-do lists to facilitate a killing and references to the Unabomber, a law enforcement source briefed on the matter told CNN.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2024
Even worse, the wife is in on the con!
Press PLAY on the video above to hear series star/executive producer Horgan, along with EP/director Dearbhla Walsh, take us inside poor Eva’s shame spiral.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiral 
Verb
Health care spending has spiraled upward for decades.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024
Now, the Warriors have spiraled to 10th in the Western Conference after losing 11 of their past 14 games — including a Christmas Day classic with the Lakers.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
According to the federal complaint, Mangione also had a spiral notebook that included several handwritten pages expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives.
—Mark Scolforo, arkansasonline.com, 20 Dec. 2024
Separate notes in a spiral notebook allegedly found on Mangione included to-do lists to facilitate a killing and references to the Unabomber, a law enforcement source briefed on the matter told CNN.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
Day 22 of the 2024 Space Telescope Advent Calendar: the edge of a spiral.
—Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 22 Dec. 2024
Even worse, the wife is in on the con!
Press PLAY on the video above to hear series star/executive producer Horgan, along with EP/director Dearbhla Walsh, take us inside poor Eva’s shame spiral.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiral
Verb
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Heinola sought to key a breakout, then curled to the left wing boards — the far side from the bench — before trying a pass that didn’t work.Murat Ates, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
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Traditionally, ribbons are curled using scissors—a quick process that involves dragging the sharp edge of a blade along one side of the ribbon to create tension and form curls.David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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These locations give them better visibility but also provide winding advantages.Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 19 Dec. 2024
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After a warm welcome, you’ll be led down a winding brick pathway dotted with bougainvillea to one of ten private red and white bungalows, each decked out with a full kitchen, comfy beds, and a balcony that’s perfect for star gazing and listening to the whistling tree frogs.Wendy Altschuler, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Read their answers below, and start 2025 ahead of the curve.Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 1 Jan. 2025
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With sustainability at the core of Copen’s ethos, the global supplier of pocketing, waistbands and linings has managed to stay ahead of the curve.SJ Studio, Sourcing Journal, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The start signal beeped, and Wedding launched himself out of the chute, his six-foot-four frame coiled low to the ground.Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2025
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Instead, carefully wrap garland around the tubes to keep them tightly coiled while in storage.Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Key benefits of circular economy models include: Cost Efficiency: Circular systems reduce dependency on raw materials, insulating businesses from volatile commodity prices.Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
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Video footage shows the former President skillfully using a circular saw.Michael Graff, Axios, 29 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Thus Andy Dixon paints Day-Glo takes on Rococo romances, with sculptural nudes draped in loose tunics cavorting around pleasure gardens dotted with classical statuary; these same motifs are distilled into dainty arabesques and diaphanous whorls in the abstract canvases of Michaela Yearwood-Dan.Rachel Wetzler, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2024
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This technique would be similar to how forensic scientists match fingerprints today, by comparing just a few points of interest rather than the entire whorl.Adam Czajka, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Aug. 2019
Verb
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This 2023 World’s Best Award-winning resort is a favorite with travelers seeking a relaxing vacation or a few nights of respite after driving the famed 60-mile winding road to get there.Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2024
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By Jonathan Samuels published 31 December 2024 The Schloss Roxburghe is an imposing 19th-century country house, once owned by the Duke of Roxburghe, located among the rolling hills and winding rivers of the Scottish Borders.Jonathan Samuels, theweek, 31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This allows the field strength to remain nearly the same when rotated around the helical axis, improving particle confinement and stability and reducing energy loss.IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 28 Oct. 2024
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Why animals construct helical burrows: Construction vs. post-construction benefits University of Florida.Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near spiral
Cite this Entry
“Spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiral. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
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