downward spiral
Things getting worse
A downward spiral is a situation that progressively worsens, each problem causing another in a self-reinforcing pattern of decline.
The image is of circling descent—like water draining or a plane losing control.
Most often describes personal struggles or deteriorating circumstances: His gambling addiction sent him into a downward spiral, The company entered a downward spiral of layoffs and lost contracts.
Process of declining quality
- worseningBecoming more severe
- downturnEconomic decline period
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- regressionReturn to former state
degradation · decay · slump · recession · collapse · fall · disintegration · unraveling
Prolonged low state
- despairTotal absence of hope
- hopelessnessState without hope
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- darknessTotal absence of light
breakdown · crisis · self-destruction · addiction · relapse · rock bottom · helplessness · withdrawal
Complete disorder and confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- unravelingProcess of coming undone
- snowballingIncreasing by rapid accumulation
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
cascading · compounding · vicious cycle · feedback loop · self-perpetuating · momentum · acceleration · runaway
deterioration
Process of declining quality
regression · degradation · decay · slump · recession · collapse · fall · disintegration · unraveling · tailspin
depression
Prolonged low state
- despairTotal absence of hope
- hopelessnessState without hope
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
darkness · breakdown · crisis · self-destruction · addiction · relapse · rock bottom · helplessness · withdrawal · isolation
chaos
Complete disorder and confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- unravelingProcess of coming undone
- snowballingIncreasing by rapid accumulation
escalation · cascading · compounding · vicious cycle · feedback loop · self-perpetuating · momentum · acceleration · runaway · unstoppable
- declinesdrop, decline, downtrend, downturn, downfall
- downward motionsfall, drop, descend, plunge, sink
- spiralshelix, coil, whorl, swirl, vortex
- vicious cyclesvicious cycle, feedback loop, debt cycle, cycle, catch-22
- cycleslife cycle, cycle, circle of life, cycles, period
- declinedecline, in decline, decrease, downswing, on the decline
downward spiralupward spiral
Self-reinforcing improvement pattern
upward trajectory · ascent · rise · climb · upswing
downward spiralvirtuous cycle
Self-perpetuating beneficial pattern
virtuous circle · upward spiral · snowball effect · momentum · winning streak
downward spiralrecovery
Regaining what was lost
turnaround · stabilization · rebound · renaissance · resurgence
spiral, downward, spiraling, spirals, downwards, spirally, spiralled, downwardly