compounded by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "compounded by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean that one problem has been made worse by another problem. For example, "The students' struggles to afford tuition were compounded by rising housing costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Compounded by the language barrier"?

The New Yorker

The difficulties were compounded by distance.

The New York Times - Books

The frustrations were compounded by events elsewhere.

The New Yorker

That was compounded by a further problem.

Independent

Emotional loss was compounded by fear.

The New York Times

Thus intellectual dishonesty is compounded by cowardice.

The New York Times

Damage compounded by floating debris.

The Washington Post

This was compounded by drought.

The Guardian

The problem is compounded by industry resistance.

The New Yorker

Macmillan's policy failures were compounded by "sleaze".

The Guardian

The damage is compounded by Broomfield's civility.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "compounded by" to create a sense of escalating difficulty or complexity, especially when detailing problems or challenges.

Common error

Avoid using "compounded by" when the second factor doesn't directly worsen the initial problem. Ensure a clear cause-and-effect relationship for accurate usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "compounded by" functions as a causal connector, indicating that a situation or problem is made worse or more complex by an additional factor. This usage is supported by Ludwig AI and the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "compounded by" is a causal connector used to indicate that a situation is made worse by an additional factor. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use. It is most commonly found in news and media, as well as science and business contexts, making it suitable for both formal and neutral communication. When using this phrase, ensure that the compounding factor directly worsens the initial problem. Alternatives include "exacerbated by" and "aggravated by". Therefore, "compounded by" serves to emphasize the increased difficulty of a situation due to added elements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exacerbated by

Direct synonym, implying an increase in severity.

aggravated by

Similar to "exacerbated by", suggesting a worsening condition.

made worse by

Simpler phrasing, directly indicating a decline in quality due to an additional element.

intensified by

Focuses on the increase in intensity or strength.

complicated by

Highlights the added complexity resulting from another factor.

magnified by

Suggests an increase in scale or importance due to an additional influence.

heightened by

Indicates an elevation of intensity or degree.

further complicated by

Emphasizes the added difficulty from an additional element.

burdened by

Highlights the negative impact or difficulty added by another factor.

increased by

A more general phrase for indicating a rise in something due to an additional factor.

FAQs

How can I use "compounded by" in a sentence?

Use "compounded by" to indicate that an existing problem is made worse by an additional factor. For example, "The company's financial difficulties were "compounded by" the recent economic downturn".

What are some alternatives to "compounded by"?

You can use alternatives such as "exacerbated by", "aggravated by", or "made worse by" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say 'the problem was compounded by another problem'?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. It indicates that the initial problem was made more severe or complex due to the presence of another contributing issue. You could also say, "The problem was "further complicated by" another problem".

What is the difference between "compounded by" and "caused by"?

"Caused by" indicates the direct cause of a situation, whereas "compounded by" suggests that something already existing is made worse by an additional factor. "The failure was caused by negligence," but "The existing debt was "compounded by" poor investment choices".