send spiraling downward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "send spiraling downward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or object that is rapidly declining or deteriorating, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The sudden economic crisis sent the stock market spiraling downward, causing panic among investors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Every time you hear his voice, you'll feel sadness, regret, bitterness, and a slew of other negative emotions that will send you spiraling downward.

WikiHow

Analysts said the reports that Saudi Arabia cut its prices for July crude to the Far East, Europe and the United States sent futures spiraling downward.

The New York Times

Indeed, their recent currency devaluations have decimated many a balance sheet, sent their economies spiraling downward and left their warehouses bulging with unsold goods.

Forbes

So Blue Apron is in a semi-tricky spot: it's a growth story, but it's also coming after the major whiff from Snap that sent its shares spiraling downward after a successful IPO and the following scrutiny on new IPOs.

TechCrunch

The debt deal alone didn't send stocks spiralling downward, obviously.

The New Yorker

Mr. Perry's campaign now confirms he will take part in five Republican debates in November and December after suggesting he might not attend them following a series of lackluster performances that helped send his poll numbers spiraling downward.

The New York Times

That possibility sent markets in London, Frankfurt and Paris spiraling downward, even as analysts struggled to explain which fears of contagion were legitimate and which were overwrought.

The New York Times

The vineyards were replanted, but soon after came World War I and then the Great Depression, which sent the wine market spiraling downward.

The New York Times

The issuance of a subpoena would be an expected and normal part of that process". Within days of Frist's July stock sale, HCA warned investors about weaker-than-expected financial performance, which sent the stock price spiraling downward by 9percentt in one day.

The Washington Post

All seemed to be going fine until 2012, when Google's Penguin update hit and sent Trolling Motors's rankings spiraling downward, ultimately costing it 80percentt of its traffic.

Forbes

Investors dumped the stock in droves, sending the shares of Adelphia spiraling downward and with it, the collateral that the Rigases had hoped to use to repay the loan -- effectively ensuring that the loans could never be paid back.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "send spiraling downward", ensure the context clearly implies a rapid and continuous decline. It's particularly effective when describing abstract concepts like morale, prices, or relationships.

Common error

Avoid using "send spiraling downward" if the situation involves a one-time drop or a decline without a cyclical or recurring pattern. The phrase implies a continuous, worsening state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "send spiraling downward" functions as a verb phrase, indicating causation of a rapid and continuous decline. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "send spiraling downward" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase that conveys the causation of a rapid and continuous decline. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes how an action or event leads to a situation’s rapid deterioration, often implying a loss of control. The register of the phrase is neutral, fitting for use in news, general writing, and even formal contexts when describing abstract concepts. When using "send spiraling downward", ensure the context clearly conveys a rapid and continuous decline with cyclical implications and avoid using it for one-time drops. Alternatives include "precipitate a decline" or "trigger a freefall".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause to descend rapidly

Focuses on the causation of a quick drop, instead of the spiraling nature.

precipitate a decline

Emphasizes the initiation of a downward trend rather than the manner of the decline.

trigger a freefall

Highlights the uncontrolled and rapid nature of the fall.

initiate a downturn

Focuses on the beginning of a negative trend, omitting the spiraling aspect.

set off a collapse

Emphasizes the commencement of a complete failure, removing the gradual spiraling.

prompt a rapid descent

Highlights the speed of the decline but lacks the connotation of a spiral.

lead to a steep decline

Indicates a sharp drop but doesn't convey the spiraling or cyclical nature.

result in a nosedive

Similar to spiraling, but more abrupt and less cyclical.

drive into a tailspin

Emphasizes the loss of control and chaotic decline.

usher into a decline

Focuses on the action of leading or introducing a decline, removing the rapid and cyclical aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "send spiraling downward" in a sentence?

You can use "send spiraling downward" to describe a situation or object that is rapidly declining or deteriorating, often in a metaphorical sense. For example: "The sudden economic crisis "sent the stock market spiraling downward", causing panic among investors."

What are some alternatives to "send spiraling downward"?

Some alternatives include "precipitate a decline", "trigger a freefall", or "lead to a steep decline", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "spiraling downward" or "spiraling upwards"?

"Spiraling downward" indicates a decline, while "spiraling upwards" indicates an improvement. The choice depends entirely on the context you are describing.

What does "spiraling downward" imply about the nature of the decline?

"Spiraling downward" suggests that the decline is not only rapid but also continuous and potentially self-reinforcing, much like an object caught in a downward spiral.