Free-faller

A free-faller is a person or thing experiencing uncontrolled descent, often from a great height, without external support or significant drag. This term typically describes the physical act of falling under gravity, but can be extended metaphorically to encompass situations involving rapid decline, loss of control, or an abrupt worsening of circumstances. The essence lies in the lack of external mechanisms to slow or halt the downward trajectory. This can be literal, like a skydiver or a falling object, or figurative, such as a company experiencing financial ruin or a politician losing public support. The defining characteristic is a rapid and often unpredictable descent influenced primarily by the forces pulling downwards, which can be gravity or the force of societal trends. The impact of the fall and the manner in which it ends are often considered. The term is often applied to individuals, systems, or objects experiencing a sudden and uncontrolled decline.

Free-faller meaning with examples

• The skydiver, after leaping from the plane, became a free-faller, hurtling towards the earth at terminal velocity until deploying their parachute. Their heart raced, their senses heightened, as they relished the brief, exhilarating, and ultimately controlled descent. This is a calculated risk with a very high chance of success. The speed is terrifying.
• Following the stock market crash, the company became a financial free-faller, its share value plummeting dramatically day after day, as investors lost confidence and the economy worsened. It would be an uphill battle. They didn't anticipate this.
• The rogue asteroid turned into a celestial free-faller, pulled towards the Earth's gravitational field, its trajectory determined by the force of attraction and devoid of any braking systems. The planet's fate could depend on a sudden change in course. No one knows the ending.
• The political party, after a scandal erupted, was a public-opinion free-faller, losing supporters and relevance as each news cycle revealed new damaging details, making an eventual resurgence appear unlikely. The damage was done. Public faith was lost.
• When the support rope snapped, the climber turned into a terrifying free-faller, plummeting downwards before they hit the ground at top speed. His survival was nothing short of a miracle. Never climb alone.