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

Its multi-barrel design distributes firing cycles across six barrels, supporting sustained firing while distributing heat and mechanical stress.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
Name one person accountable for the whole chain, and keep them accountable past the signature, until the first independent production cycle or the first repeat order.

— Masha Khmel, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of cycle

Noun

The local chain, which Dick Portillo founded in 1963, offers solid versions of local favorites, including hot dogs, Italian beef, and a Maxwell Street Polish.

— Amy Cavanaugh, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
Processing 'monopoly' But the push is facing growing resistance as host governments demand more local processing, a stage China dominates and has turned into a key supply-chain chokepoint.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of chain

Noun

Dhillon, a Sikh who was born in India and immigrated to the United States as a child, was a prominent figure in conservative legal and political circles even before being tapped to her Justice Department position.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
Immersive is easy to try out—just tap the circle icon at the top left of the rear display to toggle it.

— Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of circle

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vicious circle

vicious circles

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“Vicious circle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious%20circle. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of vicious circle

noun

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