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Vicious Circle (Noun)

One trouble leads to another that aggravates the first.

Nouns denoting natural processes.

Debt can create a vicious circle where you need more credit to pay off existing loans, thus piling up even more debt.
A smoker may experience a vicious circle of stress and anxiety that prompts them to smoke more, which in turn makes their overall mental health decline.
The company found itself in a vicious circle of needing more resources to fund its growth, but struggling to secure funding due to its poor financial health.
Withdrawing cash from a retirement account can create a vicious circle of early withdrawal penalties and taxes that further reduce the account's balance.
Lack of sleep can lead to poor eating habits, creating a vicious circle where weight gain exacerbates insomnia, making it even harder to fall asleep.

An argument that assumes that which is to be proved.

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.

The politician's argument that she was popular because many people supported her fell into a vicious circle, as it was based on the very assumption it was meant to prove.
He claimed that his investment strategy was effective, citing its popularity among investors, which relied on the effectiveness of the strategy – a classic vicious circle.
The company's marketing tactic relied on a vicious circle, assuming their product was a best-seller because it was best-selling, rather than providing any concrete sales data.
The defense attorney presented a vicious circle argument when she claimed the accused's guilt was proven by the testimony of his accomplices, as the accomplices were only credible because they were testifying against a guilty person.
Her definition of genius as someone who is widely recognized as a genius relied on a vicious circle, as the wide recognition was seen as proof of their genius status.