spiraling
Curving ever outward
Spiraling describes movement in a spiral pattern—circling while rising or falling: The hawk went spiraling upward on the thermal.
More often, spiraling describes rapid escalation, usually negative: spiraling costs, spiraling debt, spiraling out of control.
The image is of something caught in a vortex, accelerating beyond recovery.
Also spelled spiralling in British English.
Spiraling three-dimensional curve
- corkscrewTool for opening bottles
- twistingRotating with distortion
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- whorlSpiral arrangement of ridges
curving · swirling · entwining · convolution · scroll · volute · involute · twine
Rotating water formation
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- maelstromViolent whirlpool or upheaval
- eddyCircular counter-current
swirl · gyre · twister · funnel · centrifuge · turbine · hurricane · typhoon
Rapid circular motion
- pirouetteBallet turn on one foot
- spinningRevolving around an axis
- whirlingRotating swiftly in place
- turningAct of rotating
rotating · dervish · waltz · ballet · arabesque · choreography · samba · flamenco
Increasing by rapid accumulation
- compoundingElements merging progressively
- ballooningSwelling or aerial drifting
- skyrocketingRising sharply and quickly
- runawayOne who flees
out of control · mounting · accelerating · intensifying · surging · mushrooming · amplifying · cascading
Falling steeply and fast
- nosedivingDescending steeply and rapidly
- plungingDescending steeply and quickly
- tailspinSteep spiral descent
- freefallUnimpeded downward motion
downward · crashing · collapsing · bottoming out · decline · deteriorating · unraveling · imploding
Persistent apprehensive distress
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- overthinkingDwelling excessively on thoughts
catastrophizing · depression · despair · addiction · mania · chaos · turmoil · crisis
helix
Spiraling three-dimensional curve
whorl · curving · swirling · entwining · convolution · scroll · volute · involute · twine · furling
whirlpool
Rotating water formation
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- maelstromViolent whirlpool or upheaval
eddy · swirl · gyre · twister · funnel · centrifuge · turbine · hurricane · typhoon · waterspout
twirling
Rapid circular motion
turning · rotating · dervish · waltz · ballet · arabesque · choreography · samba · flamenco · capoeira
snowballing
Increasing by rapid accumulation
- compoundingElements merging progressively
- ballooningSwelling or aerial drifting
- skyrocketingRising sharply and quickly
runaway · out of control · mounting · accelerating · intensifying · surging · mushrooming · amplifying · cascading · feedback loop
plummeting
Falling steeply and fast
- nosedivingDescending steeply and rapidly
- plungingDescending steeply and quickly
- tailspinSteep spiral descent
freefall · downward · crashing · collapsing · bottoming out · decline · deteriorating · unraveling · imploding · tanking
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
overthinking · catastrophizing · depression · despair · addiction · mania · chaos · turmoil · crisis · breakdown
spiralingstraight
Not curved or crooked
linear · direct · uncoiled · straightforward · beeline
spiralingstabilizing
Making firm or constant
leveling off · plateauing · steady · controlled · flat
spiralingstill
Unmoving, or continuing
stationary · motionless · static · immobile · fixed
- spiraling thoughts
- spiraling downMoving in descending curves
- spiraling out