vicious circles

variants also vicious cycles
Definition of vicious circlesnext
plural of vicious circle
as in cycles
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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious circles
Noun
  • In between seasons, Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, and the rest of the cast have come to rule Hollywood, starring in blockbuster franchises, A24 and Neon film-festival darlings, and generating buzzy press cycles all on their own.
    The Editors, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Additionally, 77 percent of growers rotate crops, disrupting pest cycles, building soil health and diversifying farm income for a more stable system.
    SJ Studio, Footwear News, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Here are a handful of restaurants, some of which are at least regional chains, in the area.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Iran has formed human chains in the past around its nuclear sites at times of heightened tensions with the West.
    Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In his book, A Voyage Around the Queen, author Craig Brown claimed that although Meghan and Harry's real names don't get brought up too often in royal circles, the estranged family members are referred to indirectly, per The Mirror.
    Tessa Petak, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Largely unknown outside scientific circles, Lehmann fundamentally transformed our understanding of what lies at the heart of our planet.
    Carol Sutton Lewis, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry

“Vicious circles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious%20circles. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

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