tailspin
noun
tail·spin
| \ ˈtāl-ˌspin
\
\
Definition of tailspin
1
: spin sense 2a
2
: a mental or emotional letdown or collapse
3
: a sustained and usually severe decline or downturn
stock prices in a tailspin
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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
Turmoil has ripped through Turkish financial markets in recent weeks, reprising the fear and volatility that sent the country’s economy into a tailspin and its currency into crisis last summer. — Avantika Chilkoti, WSJ, "What’s Driving Turkey’s Markets Wild, in Seven Charts," 2 Apr. 2019 In our rattled times, with Europe’s left in a tailspin and Trump in the White House, with political and social rights besieged, post-utopian egalitarians may need more than globalized third worldism. — Mitchell Cohen, New York Times, "Did the Crusade for Human Rights Lead to More Inequality?," 18 May 2018 The oil sanctions pushed Venezuela’s already unraveling economy into a tailspin, but Mr. Maduro has been able to keep some revenue flowing by readjusting the country’s foreign trade to Asia, Russia and Turkey. — Anatoly Kurmanaev, New York Times, "With Tougher U.S. Sanctions on Venezuela, Bolton Says ‘Time for Dialogue Is Over’," 6 Aug. 2019 The Chinese currency has now depreciated against the dollar, sending stock markets into a tailspin. — Jeffrey Sachs For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, "China isn't the economic manipulator in this trade war. Trump is," 6 Aug. 2019 The moves, which came four days after Trump threatened more taxes on Chinese imports, knocked stock markets worldwide into a tailspin. — Joe Mcdonald, Twin Cities, "Lashing back, China lets yuan drop, halts US farm purchases," 5 Aug. 2019 Kang returned in 2016 and hit 21 home runs before his career went into a tailspin after getting arrested in Seoul in December 2016 on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol. — BostonGlobe.com, "Messi suspended three months for remarks," 2 Aug. 2019 Of note, Hannah admitted that whatever happened in the famed windmill in Greece didn’t happen twice, but four times, sending the audience (including Peter’s parents) and Twitter into a tailspin. — Ben Flanagan | Bflanagan@al.com, al, "Hannah shares thoughtful message about gender politics ahead of finale; here’s our prediction," 30 July 2019 Even taking into account Thursday's jump, US oil prices remain in a tailspin. — Matt Egan, CNN, "What the Gulf tanker attacks mean for oil and gas prices," 13 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tailspin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for tailspin
tailspin
noun
English Language Learners Definition of tailspin
: a condition in which an airplane is falling rapidly while turning around and around
: a state in which something quickly becomes much worse
See the full definition for tailspin in the English Language Learners Dictionary
tailspin
noun
tail·spin
| \ ˈtāl-ˌspin
\
\
Kids Definition of tailspin
: a dive by an airplane turning in a circle
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