A difficult situation where one problem causes another problem, which makes the first problem worse
Examples:
The economy is caught in a vicious circle of inflation and wage hikes.She found herself in a vicious circle of stress leading to poor health.In politics, the scandal led to a vicious circle of blame and denial.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
This word has no antonyms
Vicious cycle
/ˈvɪʃəs ˈsaɪ.kəl/
A situation where a problem causes itself to worsen or continue in an unwanted way
Examples:
A lack of sleep created a vicious cycle of fatigue.He found himself in a vicious cycle of debt.Breaking the vicious cycle was her top priority.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
This word has no antonyms
Ways to tell them apart:
A vicious circle typically refers to a situation where one problem causes another, leading back to the original problem in a loop.
A vicious cycle is often used interchangeably with vicious circle but some people may associate it more closely with processes or cycles rather than general situations.
Remember: a circle can represent any loop of problems, whereas cycle might suggest a more structural or sequential progression.
Both terms describe negative feedback loops, but circle hints at endless loop while cycle can imply repetitive stages.
To recall, think of a circle as a problem loop and cycle as a repetitive sequence.