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
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Following one day of respite, the U.S. stock market returned to its downward spiral Thursday amid ongoing concerns tied to President Donald Trump‘s proposed tariffs.
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Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
About 75,000 federal workers accepted the first buyout offer, but some economists questioned how many would take it this time after President Donald Trump sent world markets into a downward spiral and raised fears of a recession with his announcement of sweeping new tariffs last week.
—Alexandra Alper and Nathan Layne, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
All of this to say the Cardinals' season could be headed in a downward spiral.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
At the center is the Reverend, a disgraced pastor heading into a downward spiral of drugs and despair.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downward spiral
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Jennifer Maas, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
About 75,000 federal workers accepted the first buyout offer, but some economists questioned how many would take it this time after President Donald Trump sent world markets into a downward spiral and raised fears of a recession with his announcement of sweeping new tariffs last week.
—Alexandra Alper and Nathan Layne, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
All of this to say the Cardinals' season could be headed in a downward spiral.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
At the center is the Reverend, a disgraced pastor heading into a downward spiral of drugs and despair.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025
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 22 Apr. 2025.
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