downward spiral

noun

A series of thoughts or actions which feeds back into itself, causing a situation to become progressively worse.

Opposite
reboundupward spiral
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Meanings

noundownward spiral (plural downward spirals)

plural downward spirals

  1. figurativelyA series of thoughts or actions which feeds back into itself, causing a situation to become progressively worse.

    Antonyms: rebound, upward spiral

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA series of thoughts or actions which feeds back into itself, causing a situation to become progressively worse.

Opposite
reboundupward spiral

Translations

German Abwärtsspirale
  • AbwärtsspiraleTranslations
Russian порочный круг, спираль деградации
  • порочный круг (poročnyj krug)Translations
  • спираль деградации (spiralʹ degradacii)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

downward spiral. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/downward%20spiral

MLA

“downward spiral.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/downward%20spiral. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “downward spiral,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/downward%20spiral.

Source: downward spiral on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.