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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Recent Examples of vicious circle
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
Although the head coach has a squad deep in quantity and quality, periods with several players out injured can be a vicious circle for Hurzeler.
—Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Dreaming of owning For now, scores of Londoners are trapped in a vicious circle.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
This is an important step towards justice and accountability for women and girls in Afghanistan - women and girls who have been effectively separated, segregated and removed from the public square, locked in the vicious circle of gender apartheid.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vicious circle
Dan Wang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Although the head coach has a squad deep in quantity and quality, periods with several players out injured can be a vicious circle for Hurzeler.
—Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Dreaming of owning For now, scores of Londoners are trapped in a vicious circle.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
This is an important step towards justice and accountability for women and girls in Afghanistan - women and girls who have been effectively separated, segregated and removed from the public square, locked in the vicious circle of gender apartheid.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vicious circle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious circle
Noun
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Farmers are more resilient than most people, Thomsen added, used to weathering the boom-and-bust cycles of years past.—
Matt Rivers,
ABC News,
28 Sep. 2025
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For care, the brand recommends a gentle machine cycle or hand-washing the dress to clean it, then hanging it to air-dry.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Still, the episode highlights how geopolitical supply-chain risk can materially affect production economics and timelines for any large-volume hardware program.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
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None of that would have been remotely possible before the creation of the cold chain.—
James Sneed,
NPR,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But the conversation was only going in circles, so Darcey and Stacey made a beeline out of the room.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
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He had been involved in dissident circles since his student days, in the nineties.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The typical Sahib Singh character exists on a continuum from swagger to insecurity.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
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Community policing, which is a collaboration between police and the community to solve problems, and the use-of-force continuum – the escalating series of appropriate actions an officer may take to resolve a situation – also form part of training.—
Luke William Hunt,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vicious circle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious%20circle. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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