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
Chris Welch, The Verge, 13 Jan. 2025
Violence has spiraled in the West Bank for the past year and a half, as Israel has fought wars with armed groups like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
—Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Leslie D. Rose, Parents, 20 Dec. 2024
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
Alyssa Brascia, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
What should be a simple errand spirals into an all-out battle with a fellow desperate dad (Sinbad)...and a couple of gung-ho-ho-ho mall Santas.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiral 
Verb
In October, Sonos tried to get a handle on the situation, which, by then, had spiraled into a full-on PR disaster, by outlining a turnaround plan.
—Chris Welch, The Verge, 13 Jan. 2025
Violence has spiraled in the West Bank for the past year and a half, as Israel has fought wars with armed groups like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
—Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
What Kids Will Enjoy on the Disney Treasure Cruise
Connected to the Grand Hall by a spiral tube slide is the Oceaneer Club.
—Leslie D. Rose, Parents, 20 Dec. 2024
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
Noun
Post-wash, our tester’s spirals were bouncy, lightweight, and residue-free.
—Alyssa Brascia, People.com, 19 Dec. 2024
What should be a simple errand spirals into an all-out battle with a fellow desperate dad (Sinbad)...and a couple of gung-ho-ho-ho mall Santas.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spiral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiral
Verb
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Smoke curled around my body as Maria Garcia, a Yucatec Maya healer, walked around me in circles, swinging a pail of incense.—
Gina DeCaprio Vercesi,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Jan. 2025
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While certain products can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind.—
Erin Parker,
Allure,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Andrew Greif Washington takes the lead, 10-7, after a long and winding drive lasting 11 plays, 78 yards and full of drama.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC News,
19 Jan. 2025
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The film represented a major step on what turned out to be a long and winding road to his ultimate cinematic self-reinvention.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But how can educational institutions stay ahead of the curve?—
Maja Zelihic,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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Over the years, the star has consistently been ahead of the curve with her sculptural and futuristic red carpet looks.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In November, a man from Stellenbosch, South Africa, returned home to find a cape cobra coiled under a pillow on his bed.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
2 Jan. 2025
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Now one of the movie men approaches, fat extension cords coiled around both arms.—
Honor Jones,
The Atlantic,
7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The lounge is done with a circular bronze and quartzite bar top and blue leather stools.—
John Mariani,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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Legendary Glow Colour Balm in a circular placement on the apples of the cheeks for a doll-like look.—
Claire Sullivan,
WWD,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The infrared glow created was captured by JWST, revealing details that look like knots and whorls found in wood grain.—
Greg Wehner,
Fox News,
16 Jan. 2025
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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
Verb
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But those small moments of a day grow profound as Peter’s winding monologue wears on.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2025
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Daphne uses it to create her avant-garde music, born of the noises Darcy records with his boom mic while out on winding strolls.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
25 Jan. 2025
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 31 Jan. 2025.
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