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
Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
The United States’ fiscal problems were at risk of spiraling out of control, Mr. Schweikert told his colleagues.
—Andrew Duehren, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 31 Dec. 2024
Geneva Moore’s therapist pulled out her spiral notebook.
—Maya Miller, ProPublica, 31 Dec. 2024
Damien Cave, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
The Warriors conclude their six-game homestand Tuesday night against a Miami Heat team in a spiral.
—Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for spiral 
Verb
The advertisements become incessant and impossible to avoid, while the betting companies do nothing to prevent people from spiralling out of control.
—Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
The United States’ fiscal problems were at risk of spiraling out of control, Mr. Schweikert told his colleagues.
—Andrew Duehren, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Arrange spiral side up in the prepared skillet, placing the roll so that the loose end is touching the side of the skillet or the roll next to it.
—Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 31 Dec. 2024
Geneva Moore’s therapist pulled out her spiral notebook.
—Maya Miller, ProPublica, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
At the same time, competition is increasing all around, as some nations (India, Saudi Arabia) rise and others (Venezuela, Syria) spiral and struggle, creating openings for outside influence.
—Damien Cave, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
The Warriors conclude their six-game homestand Tuesday night against a Miami Heat team in a spiral.
—Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
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
-
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 2 Feb. 2025.
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