vicious cycle

A form of vicious circle — A situation in which the response to one problem creates a chain of problems, each making it more difficult to solve the original one.

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vicious circle
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Meanings

nounvicious cycle (plural vicious cycles)

plural vicious cycles

  1. alternativeAlternative form of vicious circle.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounone trouble leads to another that aggravates the first

Similar
vicious circle
Broader
positive feedbackregeneration
Also see
vicious circle

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

vicious cycle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vicious%20cycle

MLA

“vicious cycle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vicious%20cycle. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “vicious cycle,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vicious%20cycle.

Source: vicious cycle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.