tailspins
Rapid downward spirals
Tailspins is the plural of tailspin—an aircraft's steep, spiraling descent with the tail rotating above the nose.
The figurative sense dominates: a rapid, uncontrolled decline.
The company went into a tailspin after the scandal.
Her life has been in tailspins ever since the divorce.
The verb form describes entering such a state: The news sent him tailspinning.
Catastrophic loss of control
- collapseSudden structural failure
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
- recessionProlonged economic decline
- emergencySerious sudden danger
panic · downturn · freefall · plummet · spiral · decline · implosion · insolvency
Enclosed compartment or delay
- rudderPivoting stern blade
- aileronWing-mounted roll control
- aerobaticsSpectacular aircraft maneuvers
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
nosedive · recovery · altitude · airspeed · pilot · cockpit · aircraft · flight
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- unravelingProcess of coming undone
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
distress · meltdown · despair · hysteria · frantic · spiral · out-of-control · overwhelmed
Sensation of spinning
- dizzinessUnsteady, spinning sensation
- lightheadedFaint and unsteady feeling
- whirlingRotating swiftly in place
- reelingUnsteady from shock
disorientation · unsteady · woozy · staggering · nausea · imbalance · swaying · giddiness
meltdown
Catastrophic loss of control
- collapseSudden structural failure
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
- recessionProlonged economic decline
emergency · panic · downturn · freefall · plummet · spiral · decline · implosion · insolvency · default
stall
Enclosed compartment or delay
- rudderPivoting stern blade
- aileronWing-mounted roll control
- aerobaticsSpectacular aircraft maneuvers
maneuver · nosedive · recovery · altitude · airspeed · pilot · cockpit · aircraft · flight · propeller
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- unravelingProcess of coming undone
overwhelm · distress · meltdown · despair · hysteria · frantic · spiral · out-of-control · overwhelmed · disintegration
vertigo
Sensation of spinning
- dizzinessUnsteady, spinning sensation
- lightheadedFaint and unsteady feeling
- whirlingRotating swiftly in place
reeling · disorientation · unsteady · woozy · staggering · nausea · imbalance · swaying · giddiness · faintness
tailspinslevel flight
Flight at constant altitude
controlled flight · cruising · gliding · soaring · steady climb
tailspinsstability
Resistance to displacement
composure · equilibrium · calm · groundedness · recovery
tailspinsrecoveries
Returns to normal state
upswings · turnarounds · comebacks · rebounds · stabilizations