vicious circle

USAGE SUMMARY

'vicious circle' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which a problem keeps recurring and no solution to it is found. Example: "The current financial crisis has created a vicious circle, as businesses lay off workers, who then don't have the money to buy the products the businesses produce or services they offer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Thus the vicious circle.

The Guardian

A vicious circle indeed.

The Guardian - Opinion

It becomes a vicious circle.

The New York Times

It was a vicious circle.

The New Yorker

So it's a vicious circle.

The New York Times

A vicious circle begins.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A vicious circle can develop.

The Economist

It's all a vicious circle.

The Guardian - Business

But it's a vicious circle.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It's such a vicious circle".

The New York Times

So a vicious circle develops.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In economic or academic writing, you can use the variant "vicious cycle" or "negative feedback loop" if you want to sound more technical.

Common error

Do not use "vicious circle" to describe a singular bad event or a simple streak of bad luck. The phrase specifically requires a mechanism where the outcome of an event feeds back into the start of the process, making the original problem worse.

How to use

Learn how to use "vicious circle" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vicious circle" functions as a noun phrase used to categorize a specific type of problematic system or logical error. As seen in Ludwig, it often serves as the direct object of verbs like "create", "break", or "enter", or as the subject of the sentence to describe a developing situation. It is essentially a metaphorical label for systemic failure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "vicious circle" is a highly effective and widely used idiomatic expression that describes a self-perpetuating negative loop. Whether you are writing about economics, psychology, or logic, the phrase identifies a situation where the cure and the disease are inextricably linked. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct and usable phrase, noting its prevalence in high-authority media and academic texts. When using it, ensure you are describing a truly circular process rather than just a linear sequence of unfortunate events. To add variety to your writing, you might also consider synonyms like "vicious cycle" or "negative feedback loop".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vicious cycle

Uses the term cycle to emphasize the repetitive nature of the process; often used interchangeably

downward spiral

Emphasizes the progressive worsening of a situation rather than just its circularity

negative feedback loop

Provides a more technical or scientific description of a self-reinforcing negative process

doom loop

A modern, more informal term often applied to financial or urban economic decline

self-perpetuating problem

A literal description that removes the idiomatic metaphor while keeping the core meaning

circular argument

Specifically refers to the logical fallacy aspect of the phrase rather than a general situation

catch-22

Refers to a paradoxical situation where an individual cannot avoid a problem because of contradictory rules

virtuous circle

The direct positive antonym, where one good result leads to another

spiral of decline

Focuses on the loss of quality or power over time in a systemic way

logic gate

Far less similar, but used in systems thinking to describe fixed pathways

FAQs

Is it "vicious circle" or "vicious cycle"?

Both are correct and used almost interchangeably. While "vicious circle" is the older, more traditional idiom found in logic, "vicious cycle" has become equally common in modern English to describe self-reinforcing negative events.

What is the opposite of a "vicious circle"?

The direct opposite is a "virtuous circle", which describes a chain of events where each successful outcome leads to even better results.

What does a "vicious circle" mean in economics?

In economics, it refers to a complex chain of events that reinforces itself through a negative feedback loop, such as a "downward spiral" of low wages leading to low consumption, which then leads to lower production and further wage cuts.

Can "vicious circle" refer to a logical fallacy?

Yes, in philosophy and logic, it refers to a "circular argument" or "petitio principii", where the conclusion is already assumed in the premises.