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Glite Dictionary
downspin

downspin

8.3
A sudden sharp fall in value or someone's fortunes
  • noun
  • /ˈdaʊnspɪn/
translation icon : declive
  • After months of steady progress, the company suffered a sharp downspin in sales.

Examples

  • The market is in a downspin.

  • His career went into a downspin following the scandal.

  • The sudden collapse of the housing market caused a financial downspin for many families.

  • The downspin continues.

  • The company's profits fell dramatically due to the downspin in the global market.

  • During the recent downspin, many families faced financial difficulties.

  • Investors were worried about the downspin in the stock prices affecting their savings.

Synonyms

downturn
vsdownspin
69 4.4

A period when the economy or business gets worse

is a rapid and often dangerous decline in general use not only in economics
dip
vsdownspin
50 3.3

A sudden fall in amount or value

is a rapid and often severe decline rather than a small drop
downslide
vsdownspin
1 5.1

A period when something gets worse

is a rapid and often dangerous decline rather than a slow one
downswing
vsdownspin
1 6.1

A time when people buy and sell less and the economy slows

is a rapid and often dangerous decline rather than a gradual economic phase
downrush
vsdownspin
8.5

A sudden fast downward movement, often of people or things

is a rapid decline that often threatens safety or value

Antonyms

upturn
8 4.0

A rise in business activity, often in the economy

How Severe

collapse
350 4.1
free fall
6 4.6
downspin
8.3
plunge
20 4.0
decline
439 3.9
to dip
47 2.5

Surface Forms

downspin singular
downspins plural

Morphology

downspin = spin (semi-transparent) = down + spin

Components 'down' and 'spin' are clear, but the metaphorical meaning 'rapid decline' requires a figurative extension not strictly predictable from literal parts. [Postprocessing: moved 'down' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Downspin combines down ('toward a lower place or level') and spin ('to turn quickly'). The image of something turning downward helps explain why downspin means a rapid, often dangerous fall in condition, value, or fortune.