vicious circles

noun

variants also vicious cycles
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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious circles
  1. cycles
  2. chains
  3. circles
Noun
  • Employers are already feeling it in longer hiring cycles and rising recruiting costs.
    — Svenja Gudell, Fortune, 18 July 2026
  • Engineers could move more quickly from sketches to testable 3D designs, reducing development costs, shortening design cycles, and exploring a wider range of ideas without creating large amounts of new training data.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
Definition of cycles
Noun
  • Supply chains evolve Unlike consumer electronics, automotive components must meet strict qualification standards while remaining available over extended production cycles.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026
  • Paramount argued that Amazon MGM, or other distributors like A24 or Lionsgate, could increase production levels if Paramount cut its output, undercutting any pricing power that Paramount might have over theater chains.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of chains
Noun
  • Such ideas about the wonders of the free market are fairly standard within libertarian-conservative circles.
    — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
  • While California produced President Reagan — a hero on the right who as governor frequently sparred with UC Berkeley, as Dillon does today — the state has now become, in conservative circles, a symbol of everything wrong in America.
    — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of circles
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

vicious circle
vicious circles
viciously
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Cite this Entry

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

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