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
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
Underspending on education has yielded a vicious circle, experts say.
—Vivian Yee, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for vicious circle 
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
Underspending on education has yielded a vicious circle, experts say.
—Vivian Yee, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for vicious circle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious circle
Noun
-
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
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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
Noun
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As Texans prepare for the weather, some of the area’s largest grocery chains have seen an increase in demand for staple items, like bottled water, milk, eggs, cereal, bread, peanut butter and paper goods.—
Kate Marijolovic,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2025
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Delgado’s death sets off a chain of events in the episodes that follow.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
9 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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The circles and squares on the timeline reflect the number of 15-second clips or online news articles mentioning DeSantis per week.—
Susan Merriam,
Miami Herald,
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 23 Jan. 2025.
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