variants
also vicious cycle
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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Recent Examples of vicious circle
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
Although the head coach has a squad deep in quantity and quality, periods with several players out injured can be a vicious circle for Hurzeler.
—Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Dreaming of owning For now, scores of Londoners are trapped in a vicious circle.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
This is an important step towards justice and accountability for women and girls in Afghanistan - women and girls who have been effectively separated, segregated and removed from the public square, locked in the vicious circle of gender apartheid.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vicious circle
Dan Wang, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Although the head coach has a squad deep in quantity and quality, periods with several players out injured can be a vicious circle for Hurzeler.
—Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Dreaming of owning For now, scores of Londoners are trapped in a vicious circle.
—Anna Cooban, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
This is an important step towards justice and accountability for women and girls in Afghanistan - women and girls who have been effectively separated, segregated and removed from the public square, locked in the vicious circle of gender apartheid.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vicious circle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious circle
Noun
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The Cultural, Artistic and Musical Programming Advisory Council received a total of 48 applications from qualified groups for the 2026 budget cycle, according to the three-year awards report.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Next week, the former New York Times media reporter Ravi Somaiya is launching Bungalow, a project promising to delve deep into stories outside of the daily (and sometimes hourly) news cycle.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This past July, the conservative advocacy group America First Legal requested a federal investigation of the chain due to its alleged discrimination against white employees.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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The death sets off a chain of events that forces Lilian to revisit her fractured family life and complicated bond with her ex-husband.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The lids have Tupperware’s signature ridges, and the circle in the center presses down to get an airtight seal.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
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Carey’s accolade also represented another full-circle moment for the chanteuse.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But Brando was also part of this fabric of same-sex relationships that Baldwin had on this continuum that did make writing the book challenging.—
Fiction Non Fiction
August 21,
Literary Hub,
21 Aug. 2025
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The continuum of guidance-to-manipulation is thin and often not visible to the user.—
Aditya Vikram Kashyap,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vicious circle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious%20circle. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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