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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vicious circle
This dynamic, whereby American conspiracy theorists and foreign intelligence operatives feed off one another in a vicious circle, is not new.
—
Olga Belogolova, Foreign Affairs, 3 May 2024
Critics argue Musk has trapped Tesla in a vicious circle by training consumers to postpone their purchase in the hopes of getting a better deal in the future.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2024
Drought is a vicious circle for farmers: As rainfall decreases, the soil compresses.
—Jack Thompson, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Jan. 2024
Perhaps in telling this tale Smith held out the hope that the best of monarchs, like the best of emperors, Augustus, could break this vicious circle.
—Iain Murray, National Review, 16 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for vicious circle
Olga Belogolova, Foreign Affairs, 3 May 2024
Critics argue Musk has trapped Tesla in a vicious circle by training consumers to postpone their purchase in the hopes of getting a better deal in the future.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 12 Feb. 2024
Drought is a vicious circle for farmers: As rainfall decreases, the soil compresses.
—Jack Thompson, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Jan. 2024
Perhaps in telling this tale Smith held out the hope that the best of monarchs, like the best of emperors, Augustus, could break this vicious circle.
—Iain Murray, National Review, 16 Dec. 2023
See All Example Sentences for vicious circle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious circle
Noun
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The Ring 2 also has a newer, bigger suite of health features that add women’s cycle tracking, FDA-cleared Afib detection, electrocardiogram capabilities, and insights by Kira+, Circular’s AI wellness assistant.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
8 Mar. 2025
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After wearing yours on repeat, simply throw it in the washing machine on a cold wash cycle to maintain its color.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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List of Changes to Starbucks Founded in 1971 in Seattle, Starbucks is the world's largest coffeehouse chain.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
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Million of birds have been culled since December amid infections among egg-laying hens from California to Iowa, causing grocery stores to limit purchases and breakfast chains including Waffle House and Denny's to add surcharges to orders with eggs.—
Kate Gibson,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This tablet has full Google Gemini integration, including the very useful circle to search.—
Ben Sin,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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On policy, Democrats are beginning to come together around at least one major issue likely to drive future campaign discourse: There’s a growing desire to move toward economic populism, a relatively new concept within Democratic circles that some are warming up to.—
Hanna Trudo,
The Hill,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Infuse Flexibility Into Your Plan And Documents Given the broad continuum of possible estate tax outcomes, all of which might change in a future administration, evaluate different options for integrating flexibility into your plan and documents.—
Martin Shenkman,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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And so there’s a continuum out there amongst species that is not all genetically related according to the family tree.—
Janna Levin,
Quanta Magazine,
21 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Vicious circle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious%20circle. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.
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