variants
also vicious cycles
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
Noun
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In the span of roughly seven months, the USDA froze the program’s grant funding, invited grantees to reapply without climate and DEI language, imposed sweeping new restrictions on solar on farmland, and closed future application cycles.—
Ayurella Horn-Muller,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026 -
By leveraging existing infrastructure, the Navy could avoid long refit cycles.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The cell maintains this state with machines called electron transport chains that pump out thousands of protons per second.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Apr. 2026
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With a smorgasbord of food deals from local and national chains to choose from, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Dillard was running circles around opposing DBs during offseason camps, and his skill set is quite obvious.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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Across the awards, several titles drew on personal archives or close family circles to address wider political realities.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Vicious circles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious%20circles. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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