compound the challenges

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compound the challenges" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations where difficulties or obstacles are increased or made more complex. Example: "The new regulations will compound the challenges faced by small businesses trying to adapt to the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Don't compound the challenges with unfortunate choices that can make things worse.

Harvard Business Review

Also, societal trends further complicate and compound the challenges posed by NCDs.

Yale University

His lack of experience in public office will further compound the challenges he faces.

The Economist

He acknowledged that the researchers' greatest challenge was to create systems that would not compound the challenges already faced by Alzheimer's patients.

The New York Times

The sanctions and screeds emanating from Washington — usually as uninformed as they are disingenuous — only compound the challenges ordinary Iranians face.

The Washington Post

By the mid-1990's New Zealanders had come to speak of downwardly "spiraling" schools in which declining enrollments and the subsequent loss of teachers and other academic resources compound the challenges they face.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Climate change itself may only compound the challenge.

The New Yorker

To compound the challenge, more service members will return home when the US withdraws from Afghanistan.

The Guardian

We also believe that inconsistent and conflicting regulatory regimes compound the challenge for acute hospitals in this environment.

The Guardian

While the increasing concentration of the poor in fragile and conflict-affected countries will compound the challenge of poverty reduction over the next few decades, this is no excuse for not ensuring continued progress.

The Guardian

Frank J. Gaffney Jr., a missile defense advocate who served in the Pentagon in the Reagan administration, said: "To the extent that he decides to make stopping missile defense one of his principal priorities, it will greatly compound the challenge the president has in doing what he said -- in the course of the campaign and more recently -- he is determined to do".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "compound the challenges", ensure that the initial challenges are clearly defined to emphasize the added burden or complexity. For example, 'Lack of funding will compound the challenges of implementing the new program'.

Common error

Avoid using "compound the challenges" when the situation simply involves parallel, unrelated difficulties. Ensure that the new factors directly worsen or complicate the existing ones, rather than existing independently.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compound the challenges" functions as a verb phrase, where "compound" acts as a transitive verb taking "the challenges" as its object. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase indicates intensifying existing difficulties.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "compound the challenges" serves to express the intensification or worsening of existing difficulties. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and appropriateness for conveying complex situations. While prevalent in news, formal business, and scientific contexts, it also finds use in academia. When employing this phrase, clarity and precision are essential to emphasize how new factors directly amplify the preexisting burdens, as opposed to simply presenting parallel problems. Related phrases such as "exacerbate the difficulties" or "aggravate the problems" may be suitable substitutes, with the choice largely depending on the level of intensity you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exacerbate the difficulties

Replaces "compound" with "exacerbate", focusing on worsening existing problems.

aggravate the problems

Uses "aggravate" to indicate making existing issues more severe.

worsen the complications

Employs "worsen" to describe the increasing severity of complex situations.

intensify the issues

Substitutes "compound" with "intensify", highlighting the heightened effect of the problems.

add to the difficulties

A simpler way of saying that more difficulties are being created

magnify the problems

Uses "magnify" to suggest that the problems are being made to appear larger or more significant.

heighten the challenges

Expresses the increase in intensity or degree of the challenges

inflate the difficulties

Illustrates the act of expanding difficulties beyond their actual size.

increase the severity of the challenges

Replaces the word "compound" with a full sentence to describe an incrase in the hardness of the challenges

build upon the existing challenges

Illustrates the effect of creating a new layer of the challenges on the current ones

FAQs

How can I use "compound the challenges" in a sentence?

You can use "compound the challenges" to describe how a new factor intensifies existing difficulties. For example: "The economic downturn will "compound the challenges" faced by small businesses."

What are some alternatives to "compound the challenges"?

Alternatives include "exacerbate the difficulties", "aggravate the problems", or "worsen the complications", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "compound the challenges" or "exacerbate the challenges"?

Both "compound the challenges" and "exacerbate the challenges" are correct, but "exacerbate" often implies a more severe or intense worsening of the situation. The choice depends on the specific degree of intensification you want to convey.

What does "compound the challenges" mean in the context of a project?

In a project context, "compound the challenges" means that new issues or obstacles are arising that make the existing difficulties even harder to overcome. This could involve resource shortages, unexpected delays, or regulatory hurdles.