vicious circle: M-W's Word of the Day

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The Word of the Day for January 12 is:

vicious circle \VISH-us-SER-kul\ noun
1 : an argument or definition that assumes as true something that is to be proven or defined
*2 : a chain of events in which the response to one difficulty creates a new problem that aggravates the original difficulty

Example sentence:
Lower profits lead to spending cuts, which cause falling sales, in a vicious circle.

Did you know?
"Vicious circle" originally referred to a circular argument, that is, an argument that assumes the conclusion as one of its premises. That sense was first documented around the end of the 18th century. Approximately 50 years later, "vicious circle" acquired the now more common "chain of events" sense as people began to think of the circle as a metaphorical circle rather than a circular argument. Today, "vicious cycle" is a common variant for the "chain of events" sense. "Vicious spiral," in which the ill effects are cumulative as well as self-aggravating, puts in an occasional appearance as well.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

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