vicious cycle
14
4.8
- noun
- /ˈvɪʃəs ˈsaɪkəl/
:
círculo vicioso
- Will nothing end this vicious cycle?
- create a vicious cycle
- vicious cycle of poverty
- break the vicious cycle
It's just not productive or helpful, and it speaks to a vicious cycle that I just don't want to be part of.
- It's just not productive or helpful, and it speaks to a vicious cycle that I just don't want to be part of.
- And then the trauma from the the divorce would make, you know, it's a vicious cycle.
- The Bank of England was clear that they were only doing this to buy time to prevent a vicious cycle for pension funds.
- So yeah, it's just one of those things where it just becomes like a vicious cycle where the currency is, is likes and clout and attention.
- It's like it's a vicious cycle that works with with each other.
- So you don't want to get into that vicious cycle should you wish again, it's your choice.
- So it's a vicious cycle and I don't think I've always been like this.
- But what we see is another example of a vicious cycle where the peripheral biological aspects of things aren't great.
Examples
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Because of these factors, very few experts are produced—and thus the vicious cycle is perpetuated.
Academic text (1997) -
By modifying the child support order, the attorneys help break an otherwise vicious cycle of incarceration.
Academic text (2017) -
Like this is a vicious cycle where I feel like I cannot get out of it.
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You can see how the vicious cycle would take place.
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If you find yourself in a vicious cycle of getting nowhere, then get out.
Blog text (4) -
There is a known vicious cycle between an infectious disease, in this case HIV, and nutrition.
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Evidence suggests that there is a vicious cycle between human rights and health, particularly for marginalized and minority populations.
Academic text (2012) -
The result is a vicious cycle of hostility and repression.
Academic text (1991) -
Are there any ways to weaken the vicious cycle of spiraling campaign costs and fundraising?
Blog text (25) -
The city where I work is stuck in a vicious cycle of poverty and violence.
Synonyms
5
3.9
A situation where one problem causes another and makes the first problem worse
5
8.4
A situation that gets worse and worse until it fails completely
Antonyms
How Persistent
Surface Forms
Morphology
A B1 learner who knows 'vicious' (harmful/cruel) and 'cycle' (a repeating sequence) can reasonably infer a negative or harmful repeating pattern, which captures the core meaning. However, the specific nuance that the problems causally reinforce and worsen each other is a metaphorical, self-reinforcing idea that may not be fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
The phrase vicious cycle comes from the image of a harmful circle: vicious means dangerous and cycle is a circle that keeps turning. That's why it means 'a situation where one problem causes another and the problems keep getting worse'.