adding to misery

USAGE SUMMARY

"adding to misery" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is making an already negative situation worse. For example: "The relentless rain was adding to the misery of the small town, which was already struggling with a lack of resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This is not a suggestion that every person who suffers medical distress be flown to treatment in the United States nor that America needs to become the global doctor any more than the global cop, but we might start by not adding to misery and to do what we might to help humankind to feel stronger rather than more divided.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Sexual Assaults Add to Miseries of Haiti's Ruins" (front page, June 24) was timely.

The New York Times

How can we make them an aspect of work that contributes to our happiness rather than adding to our misery?

Harvard Business Review

Others caution that throwing treatments at children can do more harm than good, adding to the misery of being fat.

The New York Times

By afternoon, clouds cover the rugged landscape, adding to the misery as a freezing mist covers everything.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, fresh statistics reinforce the fact that little-publicised cuts from other government departments are adding to the misery.

The Guardian - Opinion

The police surveillance vehicle being sent around the world, an international alliance of dockworkers adding to the misery of one policeman in Baltimore?

The Guardian

Many Iraqis remember those strikes, undertaken by the Clinton administration, as having little effect on Mr. Hussein's brutality and only adding to the misery of the population.

The New York Times

Horrific reports of mass marriages involving insurgents are slowly leaking into the press, only adding to the misery of families frustrated with the apparent inaction of the government.

The Economist

Tropical rains poured down in intervals throughout the day, adding to the misery of tens of thousands of refugees living in tents or without shelter.

The Washington Post

In New Delhi, forecasters said they expected the high temperatures to continue into next week – adding to the misery of the thousands of poor living on the capital's streets.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "adding to misery", ensure the context clearly establishes a pre-existing state of suffering or hardship. This will emphasize the impact of the additional factor and improve the overall coherence of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "adding to misery" in situations that are merely inconvenient or mildly unpleasant. This phrase is best reserved for contexts involving significant suffering or distress, as its overuse can dilute its impact and sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "adding to misery" functions as a verbal phrase that describes an action that exacerbates a pre-existing state of suffering or hardship. Ludwig examples shows that it's mostly applied to events that generate negative outcomes, in multiple contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "adding to misery" is a common expression used to describe situations where an additional factor intensifies existing suffering or hardship. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science domains. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes a pre-existing state of suffering to emphasize the impact of the additional factor. While "adding to misery" can be used in formal writing, it's essential to consider the tone and audience to ensure it aligns with the overall message. Alternatives like "worsening the situation" or "exacerbating the suffering" can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worsening the situation

Focuses on making the overall situation worse.

exacerbating the suffering

Highlights the act of making the existing suffering more intense.

intensifying the hardship

Emphasizes the increasing severity of difficult conditions.

compounding the distress

Suggests that something is being added to already present distress.

aggravating the pain

Focuses specifically on the increase of pain.

heightening the affliction

Highlights the increase of affliction.

deepening the sorrow

Emphasizes the increasing depth of sorrow or sadness.

magnifying the despair

Focuses on amplifying the feelings of despair.

fuelling the anguish

Implies that something is providing more fuel for existing anguish.

inflaming the torment

Highlights the intensifying of torment.

FAQs

How can I use "adding to misery" in a sentence?

Use "adding to misery" to describe situations where an additional factor worsens an already difficult or painful experience. For example, "The economic recession was "adding to the misery" of families who had already lost their homes."

What can I say instead of "adding to misery"?

You can use alternatives like "worsening the situation", "exacerbating the suffering", or "intensifying the hardship" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "adding to misery" in formal writing?

Yes, "adding to misery" can be appropriate in formal writing when describing situations involving genuine suffering or hardship. However, consider the tone and audience to ensure it aligns with the overall message.

What's the difference between "adding to misery" and "adding insult to injury"?

"Adding to misery" refers to making an already bad situation worse, while "adding insult to injury" implies that something is done to humiliate or offend someone who is already suffering. The latter involves an element of disrespect or intentional offense.