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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiral
Pete McKenzie, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
In the decade leading up to Tolstoy’s death, Russian society spiraled in ever-greater unrest.
—Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2025
Paul Sutter, Space.com, 5 June 2025
Natural light shines from the oculus of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic spiral building.
—Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2025
Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 2 June 2025
At each summer solstice, the light passes across an even larger boulder and touches the center of the spiral.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Verb
Resentful locals began attacking the newcomers, and around 1998, the violence spiraled into the Tensions, a brutal conflict between rival militias.
—Pete McKenzie, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025
In the decade leading up to Tolstoy’s death, Russian society spiraled in ever-greater unrest.
—Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 18 June 2025
Adjective
Sometimes, the magnetic fields are relatively weak, like the ones that thread their way through the spiral arms of galaxies.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 5 June 2025
Natural light shines from the oculus of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic spiral building.
—Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2025
Noun
Theatrical attendance still hasn’t recovered from its pandemic-era collapse, and domestic film production appears to be in a death spiral, which makes the fact that Sinners performed so well all the more remarkable.
—Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 2 June 2025
At each summer solstice, the light passes across an even larger boulder and touches the center of the spiral.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiral
Verb
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The scrappy winger then curled in a cross toward the rear-center of the box.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
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Swirling the water helps the egg white curl around the yolk and cook into a neat oval shape.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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During his speech, Kissel made winding references to railroads, attorneys’ fees, scratch-off tickets, casinos, Hartford, car fatalities, troopers, eye-hand coordination, Jack LaLanne, Methuselah, the Bible, and hallucinogenic mushrooms.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
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One way that’s easy to manifest is through maximalist bedding with punchy colors, big stripes, and winding patterns.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
25 May 2025
Noun
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The potential is still there for Byram at 24 years old, just entering the prime of his career, according to aging curve work done by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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The curve running through the flag's center represents new horizons and opportunities for Black Americans.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
People.com,
18 June 2025
Verb
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The headphones are supplied with a detachable and coiled 3 m cable as well as a straight 1.5m version.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
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It is designed to simultaneously power your Apple Watch and any USB-C device while keeping everything neatly coiled and travel-ready.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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The scalloped, circular shape departs from the traditional square shape of dinner napkins.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
16 June 2025
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Because of the positions and orbits of neighboring moons, Io’s orbit is elliptical rather than circular.—
Robin Andrews,
Wired News,
15 June 2025
Noun
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In 2024, the Ig Nobel Prize in anatomy went to an international team of scientists for their discovery that scalp hair whorls are more likely to spiral in a counter-clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere compared with the Northern Hemisphere.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2025
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Something in the interaction of all those whorls and swirls will give the ducks a special boost.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
16 May 2025
Verb
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His hobbies include reading, listening to music and going on long, winding adventures on his road bike.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2025
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At the Japanese Village Plaza, strollers rolled through the winding walkway with patrons sipping boba.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Researchers also noted helical fiber structures in the cartilage, the twisting patterns of collagen helping prevent cracks from spreading.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Along with that, the research team also noted helical fiber structures, also with collagen, which suggests the cartilage is designed to prevent any cracks from spreading, and help to distribute staring and force.—
Discover Magazine,
Discover Magazine,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiral. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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