vicious circle

noun

variants also vicious cycle
Definition of vicious circlenext
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

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
  1. cycle
  2. chain
  3. circle
  4. continuum
Noun
  • The political action committee Texans United for a Conservative Majority that’s largely funded by Dunn has waded into a number of Tarrant County races in recent years, including this election cycle.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Strong cybersecurity becomes an economic advantage, attracting investment, supporting growth, and kicking off a virtuous cycle that further strengthens defenses.
    — Michael Miebach, Time, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of cycle
Noun
  • This chain of reasoning purposefully stokes fear in the hearts of Broward citizens.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Built for government demands BlueChip’s first customers are expected to value durability and supply-chain transparency over portability.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of chain
Noun
  • Still, the very idea of such a thing freezes my brain, locking it into a mental feedback loop that’s the equivalent of running around in a tight circle flapping my arms wildly and screaming.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The plan reflects growing recognition within defense planning circles that a future conflict could affect not only battlefields overseas but also the infrastructure and industrial networks supporting military operations at home.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of circle
Noun
  • The Xbox Helix is a powerful extension of the same continuum.
    — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Connecticut’s two continuums of care have received about $100 million in annual grants for decades, according to Fox.
    — Maia Nehme, Hartford Courant, 23 Sep. 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 31 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vicious circle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vicious circle

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