variants
also vicious cycle
as in cycle
a repeating situation or condition in which one problem causes another problem that makes the first problem worse
We're trapped in a vicious circle of needing to borrow money in order to pay debts.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vicious circle
Talent marketplaces have the potential to break workforce development out of this vicious circle.
—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2026
If people believed that inner joy was an index of personal redemption, then some might also read their own low mood as signs of their abandonment by God and fall into a vicious circle of self-reinforcing anguish.
—
Literary Hub,
10 Mar. 2026
Thanks to the vicious circle Beijing has created, the economy now routinely struggles to reach its annual growth target of five percent and is constantly battling deflation.
—
Dan Wang,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
This vicious circle means that for electric-plane design, adding batteries to boost range isn't a viable strategy.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
24 May 2016
See All Example Sentences for vicious circle
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2026
If people believed that inner joy was an index of personal redemption, then some might also read their own low mood as signs of their abandonment by God and fall into a vicious circle of self-reinforcing anguish.
—
Literary Hub,
10 Mar. 2026
Thanks to the vicious circle Beijing has created, the economy now routinely struggles to reach its annual growth target of five percent and is constantly battling deflation.
—
Dan Wang,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Aug. 2025
This vicious circle means that for electric-plane design, adding batteries to boost range isn't a viable strategy.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
24 May 2016
See All Example Sentences for vicious circle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious circle
Noun
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Laundry Sheets, In Detail Laundry detergent sheets are ultra-concentrated, thin slabs of solid detergent that dissolve during the wash cycle.
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For Swift, an increase in solar activity magnified this impact over the past couple of years as the sun reached the peak of its 11-year cycle.
Noun
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His cuffs and chains were removed and a few minutes later he was pronounced dead, according to the family.
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The federal government is suing 99 Ranch Market, alleging the nation’s largest Asian supermarket chain is discriminating against employees who are not Chinese.
Noun
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As darkness settled over Washington Square Park, supporters formed circles, waved Ghanaian flags and continued singing Jama into the evening.
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Activities include swimming, competitions, sports, but also therapeutic group dialogue circles.
Noun
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Skinner said the tribe is building a continuum of care, which will include a variety of treatment options, not just inpatient care.
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In reality, there is a continuum of ways to work, including fully in-office, hybrid, mostly remote and fully remote.
Cite this Entry
“Vicious circle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious%20circle. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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