Skip to main content

vicious circlea sequence of recurring problems where each problem creates conditions that lead to the next problem, making the situation progressively worse

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a sequence of recurring problems where each problem creates conditions that lead to the next problem, making the situation progressively worse

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈvɪʃəs ˈsɜːrkəl/

Korean meaning: 하나의 문제가 다음 문제를 유발하여 상황을 점점 더 악화시키는 악순환

Korean pronunciation: **비**셔스 **서**클

Example Sentences

  • Jake's gaming addiction created a vicious circle: he played games to avoid homework, then felt guilty about bad grades, so he played more games to forget.
  • The company is stuck in a vicious circle where low profits prevent investment in innovation, which keeps profits low.
  • Sarah's diet plan became a vicious circle: she ate salad, got hungry, ate a whole pizza, felt guilty, then promised to eat only salad tomorrow.

vicious circle

NOUN

//ˈvɪʃəs ˈsɜːrkəl//

a sequence of recurring problems where each problem creates conditions that lead to the next problem, making the situation progressively worse

vicious circle concept
💡 Concept

a sequence of recurring problems where each problem creates conditions that lead to the next problem, making the situation progressively worse

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free
vicious circle rhyme
🎵 Rhyme

Breaking through each hurdle, but trapped in a vicious circle!

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈvɪʃəs ˈsɜːrkəl/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈvɪʃəs ˈsɜːkl/

🌳Etymology

Rootvici-
Suffix--ous

Origin

라틴어 'vitiosus'(결함이 있는)와 'circulus'(원)에서 유래. 16세기부터 문제가 끝없이 반복되는 상황을 원형으로 비유하여 사용

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

🎵Rhyme

circlepurplehurdle
circle
purple
hurdle

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

Jake's gaming addiction created a vicious circle: he played games to avoid homework, then felt guilty about bad grades, so he played more games to forget.

The company is stuck in a vicious circle where low profits prevent investment in innovation, which keeps profits low.

😄 Fun example

Sarah's diet plan became a vicious circle: she ate salad, got hungry, ate a whole pizza, felt guilty, then promised to eat only salad tomorrow.

To break the vicious circle of unemployment, the government launched job training programs.

Sign up free to see all content

Etymology, AI images, rhymes, collocations & examples — all in one!

Start for Free

📚Related Words

Synonyms

downward spiralnegative feedback loopcatch-22self-perpetuating cycle

Antonyms

virtuous circlepositive feedback loopupward spiral

Related

chain reactiondomino effectspiralcycleloop