vicious cycle meaning, vicious cycle definition | English Cobuild dictionary

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vicious

1       adj   A vicious person or a vicious blow is violent and cruel.   (=brutal)
He was a cruel and vicious man..., He suffered a vicious attack by a gang of white youths..., The blow was so sudden and vicious that he dropped to his knees.
♦   viciously      adv   usu ADV with v, also ADV adj
She had been viciously attacked with a hammer.
♦   viciousness      n-uncount
...the intensity and viciousness of these attacks.

2       adj   A vicious remark is cruel and intended to upset someone.   (=savage)
It is a deliberate, nasty and vicious attack on a young man's character.
♦   viciously      adv   ADV with v
`He deserved to die,' said Penelope viciously.

vicious circle ( vicious circles plural ) , vicious cycle A vicious circle is a problem or difficult situation that has the effect of creating new problems which then cause the original problem or situation to occur again. n-count usu sing, oft N of n (Antonym: virtuous circle) The more pesticides are used, the more resistant the insects become so the more pesticides have to be used. It's a vicious circle.

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"Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learners 4th edition published in 2003 © HarperCollins Publishers 1987, 1995, 2001, 2003 and Collins A-Z Thesaurus 1st edition first published in 1995 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995"