vicious circle

noun

variants also vicious cycle
Definition of vicious circlenext
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.

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vicious circle Talent marketplaces have the potential to break workforce development out of this vicious circle. — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2026 If people believed that inner joy was an index of personal redemption, then some might also read their own low mood as signs of their abandonment by God and fall into a vicious circle of self-reinforcing anguish. — Literary Hub, 10 Mar. 2026 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 This vicious circle means that for electric-plane design, adding batteries to boost range isn't a viable strategy. — IEEE Spectrum, 24 May 2016 See All Example Sentences for vicious circle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicious circle
  1. cycle
  2. chain
  3. circle
  4. continuum
Noun
  • Training units would not need to replace the complete launch pod after every firing cycle.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The editors then serve up a tasty treat of a bunch of photos with Emily smack dab in the center, and cycle through them more quickly than Jenn’s boyfriend Ryan cycles through loud denim jackets.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cycle
Noun
  • Bonnell also uses a belt drive as standard equipment for quieter, lower-maintenance operation, with an optional 520 chain conversion available for riders who prefer a more traditional setup.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Raven-Flint wants to eliminate elemental fluorine The more unusual part of the company’s approach is its Corvus Route, a proprietary uranium conversion process designed to eliminate elemental fluorine gas from the production chain.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of chain
Noun
  • More importantly, part two closes an emotional circle that the first one had just begun to delineate.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That touchdown served as a full-circle moment for Ahmed and Washington, who are now on the Bears and Colts’ practice squads, respectively.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of circle
Noun
  • Autonomy here is a progression, part of a broader continuum of decision automation.
    — Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Stuart Bloom’s futile efforts to right the space-time continuum will continue.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of continuum

Browse Nearby Words

vicious
vicious circle
vicious circles
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Vicious circle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicious%20circle. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on vicious circle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vicious circle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All