Thesaurus results for VICIOUS CIRCLE

vicious circle

noun

variants also vicious cycle

Definition of vicious circle

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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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.

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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious circle

Noun

Laundry Sheets, In Detail Laundry detergent sheets are ultra-concentrated, thin slabs of solid detergent that dissolve during the wash cycle.

— Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026
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.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Definition of cycle

Noun

With fewer adult children often available to take on those responsibilities, families may need to discuss expectations earlier and broaden the circle of caregivers to include friends and other trusted people, not just relatives.

— Panashe Matemba-Mutasa, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
This digital network will cultivate influence through private year-round conversations, executive circles and brand collaborations.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

Definition of circle

Noun

Skinner said the tribe is building a continuum of care, which will include a variety of treatment options, not just inpatient care.

— Sarah Liese, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
In reality, there is a continuum of ways to work, including fully in-office, hybrid, mostly remote and fully remote.

— Julia Korn, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of continuum

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“Vicious circle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious%20circle. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of vicious circle

noun

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