death spiral

American  

noun

1. (in pair skating) a dramatic movement in which the man spins his partner around him in a gradually increasing radius while he spins in place, holding the extended arm of the woman, who revolves around him on one skate with the other leg stretched out and gradually lowers herself backward until she is just above the ice surface.

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Example Sentences

As every expert knows, voluntary health programs are killed by an adverse-selection death spiral.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

The report lays out a death spiral for the economy in which AI displaces white-collar workers, who are then unemployed and have no money to spend, which causes economic ruin.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

A death spiral ultimately did it in: Unpaid suppliers cut shipments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

But don’t worry, I’m not going to mark this anniversary by rambling on and on about the death spiral, other than to remind you to renew your subscription immediately.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2025

Despite billions in investments, TerraUSD and Luna went into a death spiral in May 2022.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2024