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
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
Another said France’s government was dragging its partners into a vicious circle of growing distrust with the country’s new authorities that could erode Europe’s broader involvement in the region.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for vicious circle 
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
Another said France’s government was dragging its partners into a vicious circle of growing distrust with the country’s new authorities that could erode Europe’s broader involvement in the region.
—Elian Peltier, New York Times, 18 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for vicious circle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious circle
Noun
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While Rivera would register as a solid hire, there’s a sense within league circles that the Bears can make a much bigger splash in this hiring cycle and should be hellbent on doing so.—
Dan Wiederer,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2025
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There are no playoffs or Super Bowl for the 49ers this year, with their news cycle dominated instead by conjecture over how many zeroes to put at the end of a contract extension for the quarterback who fell into their lap in 2022.—
Jerry McDonald,
The Mercury News,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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State of play: Peter Morton sold his interest in the cafe chain in 1996.—
Carrie Shepherd,
Axios,
21 Jan. 2025
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Los Angeles only has a volunteer, part-time and mostly teenage hand crew, who use axes, shovels and chain saws to stop wildfires spreading, according to the Post.—
Chris Boyette,
CNN,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The researchers acquired these bits from four individuals and cut out circles one or two millimeters across for genetic sequencing.—
Amber Dance,
Smithsonian Magazine,
17 Jan. 2025
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Those big circles represent data from government monitoring stations that operate across the country.—
Paresh Dave,
WIRED,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Combine several species and varieties to produce a continuum of blooms from fall to spring.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
22 Dec. 2024
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In contrast to a classical bit, which can only be in one of its two basic states, a qubit can be in any of a continuum of possible states, as defined by the values of the quantum amplitudes α and β.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
15 Nov. 2018
Thesaurus Entries Near vicious circle
Cite this Entry
“Vicious circle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious%20circle. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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