tailspin

noun

tail·​spin ˈtāl-ˌspin How to pronounce tailspin (audio)
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.
The Penguins have very much been in a tailspin since the 4 Nations Face-Off break and their performance two days earlier in Las Vegas was especially abysmal. Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 10 Mar. 2025 Trade war intensifies Trump launched a new trade war last week by imposing tariffs against Washington’s three biggest trading partners, drawing immediate retaliation from Mexico, Canada and China and sending financial markets into a tailspin. Rob Gillies, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 Harden was purposeful with his play in going 14-for-24 from the field, six-for-13 from three-point range and 16-for-20 from the free-throw line for a Clippers team that has been in a tailspin since the All-Star break. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025 The new tariffs sent global markets into a tailspin: the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 1300 points over two days and the S&P 500 index lost all of its post-election gains as investors worried about the inflationary effects and companies were faced with widespread uncertainty. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Tailspin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tailspin. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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
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