World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesVicious cycle
/ˈvɪʃ.əs ˈsaɪ.kəl/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A complex sequence of events in which each problem produces another problem that makes the first problem worse, creating a continuous feedback loop.
"Stress at work led to insomnia, which in turn increased his workplace stress in a vicious cycle." - 2
A situation in which an effort to solve a problem causes a new problem, which makes the original problem harder to solve.
"Borrowing money to pay off existing debts only trapped them deeper in a vicious cycle of poverty."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
The term combines 'vicious' originating from the Latin 'vitiosus' (faulty, defective, immoral) and 'cycle' from the Greek 'kyklos' (circle, wheel). Established in English during the late 19th century, it originally referred to medical conditions where one symptom causes another which in turn aggravates the first, before broadening into general usage for detrimental self-perpetuating processes.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Vicious cycle" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
cercle vicieux
Transliteration: sɛʁkl vi.sjø
"Il est difficile de sortir de ce cercle vicieux."
Teufelskreis
Transliteration: ˈtɔɪfl̩sˌkʁaɪs
"Wir müssen diesen Teufelskreis durchbrechen."
circolo vizioso
Transliteration: ˈtʃir.ko.lo viˈtʃjo.zo
"Questo comportamento crea un circolo vizioso."
círculo vicioso
Transliteration: ˈsiɾ.ku.lo biˈsjo.so
"La falta de sueño empeoró su estrés en un círculo vicioso."
círculo vicioso
Transliteration: ˈsiɾ.ku.lu viˈsi.u.zu
"Precisamos quebrar este círculo vicioso de pobreza."
दुष्चक्र
Transliteration: dushchakra
"हमें गरीबी के इस दुष्चक्र को तोड़ना होगा।"
恶性循环
Transliteration: èxìng xúnhuán
"贫困和教育不足常常形成一个恶性循环。"
악순환
Transliteration: aksunhwan
"이것은 끊을 수 없는 악순환이다."
悪循環
Transliteration: akujunkan
"ストレスが不眠を招き、さらなるストレスを生む悪循環に陥った。"
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