Synonyms

cyclical

American

[sahy-kli-kuhl, sik-li-] / ˈsaɪ klɪ kəl, ˈsɪk lɪ- /

adjective

cyclic.
of or denoting a business or stock whose income, value, or earnings fluctuate widely according to variations in the economy or the cycle of the seasons.

Selling Christmas decorations is a cyclical business.

noun

Usually cyclicals. stocks of cyclical companies.

Other Word Forms

cyclicality noun
cyclically adverb
noncyclical adjective
noncyclically adverb
procyclical adjective

Etymology

Origin of cyclical

First recorded in 1810–20; cyclic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At this point, “it makes sense to start adding length in cyclical and quality growth trades where earnings remain strong, valuation has compressed, and sentiment is negative,” said Wilson.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

"I wanted the repetition to mirror those cyclical thoughts - a spiral or a fixation on one specific feeling," she says.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

A lazy cyclical view of events sets in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Chip companies had been reluctant to add capacity due to the cyclical nature of the industry, but are now looking to expand cleanroom space to address the shortages.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

In spare moments, she still tried to gather caterpillars and record their metamorphoses, continually fascinated by new forms of this cyclical pattern.

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023