SPIRAL Synonyms: 62 Similar and Opposite Words

spiral 1 of 3

verb

Definition of spiral

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

straighten

spiral

2 of 3

adjective

ˈspī-rəl

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

spiral

3 of 3

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of spiral

Verb

Narwhals are toothed whales, renowned for their distinctive straight, spiraling tusks, which many people in medieval times believed were the horns of unicorns and thus held magical healing properties. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026 Yet every tusk seems to spiral in one direction—left—and scientists have long wondered why. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026

Adjective

And their friendship, a folie à deux spiral of insane ideas powered by ungodly quantities of pot, becomes akin to a superpower. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 And his arm is pretty good — like, throwing a spiral 67 yards good. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Noun

The scorching temperatures and persistent droughts in June and July mutually reinforced each other to create a hot weather spiral, according to Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 Save the endowment, rather than lose it in trying to stave off an institutional death spiral. — Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spiral

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiral

Verb

Mosses and lichens filled the hollows, while yellowish dead man’s fingers — a spooky and thus aptly named fungus — curled among low-growing rhododendrons that perfumed the air with warm, woody notes.

— Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Beyond its championship golf courses, guests can play tennis and pickleball, take a hot yoga class, go cross-country skiing, or even try curling.

— Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of curl

Adjective

Every floor and room is dedicated to specific watch brands and timepieces, featuring bespoke details like watch-hand door handles and winding-crown faucet handles, all crafted by Florentine artisans.

— Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
As such, the show takes you on a winding journey of France’s influential craftsmanship and its impact on America via archival looks, dazzling objects, and more modern creations.

— Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 29 May 2026

Definition of winding

Verb

This species spends most of its time coiled around tree branches more than 30 meters (100 feet) high, descending during the night to prey on birds, small mammals, frogs, and other reptiles on the forest floor.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026
As management continues to prove themselves, multiples are coiled to go higher.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 30 July 2026

Definition of coil

Adjective

The skylit living room provides ample wall space for hanging art and also features a circular bar with a row of stools.

— Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Aug. 2026
Auriga effectively unrolled that circular motor, creating a linear system capable of accelerating an object along a track.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of circular

Verb

Before court went into session that day, a long line of people was winding through the lobby of the downtown Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas, waiting to pay traffic tickets.

— Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
But three years in, funding ran out and Angelides wound the company down deliberately, using personal money to make sure every teacher was paid.

— Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of wind

Adjective

So what to us may look like a distinctive left-twisting helical structure is actually the result of these two layers of fibrils oriented in opposite directions.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026
One question is whether the helical structure is also present at the micro- and nanoscale.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of helical

Browse Nearby Words

spiny

spiral

spiraled

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiral. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of spiral

verb

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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