a negative spiral

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a negative spiral" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where things are getting progressively worse, often in a self-reinforcing manner. Example: "After losing his job, he found himself in a negative spiral, struggling to pay bills and feeling increasingly hopeless."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Moreover, need for recovery and HWI were reciprocal and negatively related over time, suggesting that these two states may create a negative spiral in the home domain that could easily intrude into the work domain.

Journal of Vocational Behavior

"It's the fear of the markets, so the rates climb and a negative spiral begins".

The New York Times

The decline of the rupee now threatens to create a negative spiral.

The New York Times

At the moment, we are in a negative spiral and we have not got to the bottom yet".

The Guardian

It is possible that we will see a negative spiral, in which lower prices reduce the availability of loans, and thus push prices lower.

The New York Times

He left us on the day of the last final when he was not himself, and seeing him in such a negative spiral was scary.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"But obviously we really want the industry to work with us and to take this seriously because if they don't there will be a very negative spiral of court cases and a chilling effect for consumers because they will be afraid of using these services.

TechCrunch

"This is fertile ground for a pernicious negative spiral, which then also affects expectations," Mr Draghi noted in May.

The Economist

In the Internet crash, many times the customer was actually another VC‐backed  company and as such, there was a strong negative spiral.

TechCrunch

5. Add "Yet", Avoid FOMO, and Embrace a Beginner's Mind For all those things you feel you are missing out on (and the Fear of Missing Out can be a dangerous negative spiral), consider adding the word "yet" to these.

Huffington Post

Helicobacter pylori is a gram negative, spiral shaped bacterium which its main reservoir is humans, particularly the human stomach.

BMC Gastroenterology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a negative spiral" to vividly depict a situation where problems exacerbate each other, leading to continuous decline. For example, "The company's declining sales led to budget cuts, creating a negative spiral of low morale and reduced productivity."

Common error

Avoid using "a negative spiral" when describing a simple decline without a feedback loop. A negative spiral implies that the consequences of a problem amplify the problem itself, leading to a continuous worsening. If there's no such self-reinforcing mechanism, a term like "decline" or "downturn" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

"A negative spiral" functions as a noun phrase that describes a situation characterized by a self-reinforcing cycle of decline, where each event worsens the preceding one. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a negative spiral" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a self-reinforcing cycle of decline. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples across diverse fields such as science, news, and business. The phrase effectively conveys a sense of continuous deterioration where problems amplify each other. While "downward spiral" is a close synonym, "a negative spiral" highlights the self-reinforcing aspect more explicitly. When using this phrase, ensure the context involves a feedback loop where the initial problem is exacerbated by its consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a self-reinforcing decline

Highlights that the decline is amplified by its own effects.

a worsening cycle

Similar to a vicious cycle, but with an emphasis on the continuous deterioration.

a vicious cycle

Highlights the self-perpetuating nature of the problem, but doesn't necessarily imply a continuous worsening.

a continuous downturn

Emphasizes the ongoing and negative progression of events.

a destructive loop

Highlights the repeating and damaging nature of the process.

a downward trend

Focuses on the directional aspect of decline, rather than the cyclical nature.

a self-defeating pattern

Focuses on the self-sabotaging aspect of the situation.

a deteriorating situation

Emphasizes the worsening condition, but not necessarily a self-feeding process.

a losing battle

Suggests a struggle that is progressively becoming harder to win.

a decline

A general term for deterioration, lacking the cyclical or spiraling implication.

FAQs

How can I use "a negative spiral" in a sentence?

Use "a negative spiral" to describe a situation where a problem worsens itself through a feedback loop. For example, "The city's increasing crime rate led to decreased tourism, creating "a negative spiral" of economic decline."

What's an alternative to saying "a negative spiral"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a downward trend", "a vicious cycle", or "a deteriorating situation".

Is "negative spiral" the same as "downward spiral"?

"Negative spiral" and "downward spiral" are often used interchangeably, but "a negative spiral" emphasizes the self-reinforcing and worsening nature of the situation more explicitly.

What causes "a negative spiral"?

A "negative spiral" is caused by a feedback loop where the consequences of an event exacerbate the event itself, leading to continuous decline. This can be triggered by various factors like economic downturns, social issues, or personal problems.