ever more tricky

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ever more tricky" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or problem that is becoming increasingly difficult or complicated over time. Example: "As the project progressed, the requirements became ever more tricky, making it challenging for the team to meet deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As she treads on ever more tricky territory, you can see why she was reluctant.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

His 86 grew in significance as the match progressed and batting became ever more tricky.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As ever, the Echo is always listening, and while the company has added security precautions to ease users' minds, things get even more tricky when you add a camera into the picture.

TechCrunch

His alliance with Roy Keane was even more tricky to fathom.

The Guardian - Sport

Here's where things get even more tricky.

TechCrunch

Fund and find your opposition Ever more sectarian A tricky jigsaw A spectre of turmoil and conflict Reprints Related items Nigeria: Pouring trouble on oily watersJan 19th 2006Mr Obasanjo, a former military ruler, was selected by Nigeria's political elite to stand as a consensus candidate in elections after the death of Nigeria's last military dictator, Sani Abacha, in 1998.

The Economist

Fund and find your opposition Ever more sectarian A tricky jigsaw A spectre of turmoil and conflict Reprints Related items Iran: Fund and find your oppositionFeb 23rd 2006 Democracy and Islam: The one thing Bush got rightFeb 2nd 2006What Egyptian officials fear is that too much pressure, too soon, could drive Hamas into further extremism.

The Economist

Fund and find your opposition Ever more sectarian A tricky jigsaw A spectre of turmoil and conflict Reprints Related items Israel's wall: Where grown men cryFeb 23rd 2006 Palestine and Israel: A dilemma over Hamas and its cashFeb 16th 2006But behind the scenes, Israeli decision-makers are in a quandary.

The Economist

Fund and find your opposition Ever more sectarian A tricky jigsaw A spectre of turmoil and conflict Reprints Related items Egypt, the Americans and Arab democracy: Who's isolating whom?Feb 23rd 2006 Iran: The president gets stronger at homeFeb 9th 2006Citing infiltration of Iranian NGOs by government agents, the same official predicted that the awards would go to groups based outside Iran.

The Economist

Finding and keeping insurers willing to cover membership association is becoming increasingly tricky in today's ever more problematic health insurance marketplace, however, and many companies now shy away from selling nationwide coverage.

Science Magazine

Gove is more tricky.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ever more tricky" to describe situations where the difficulty is not just high, but increasing over time. This emphasizes the dynamic nature of the challenge.

Common error

Avoid using "ever more tricky" when describing a static difficulty. The phrase implies a progression, so it's less effective when the difficulty is constant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ever more tricky" functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective "tricky". It describes a situation or task whose difficulty is not only present but also increasing over time. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

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 "ever more tricky" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes something becoming increasingly difficult or complicated. Ludwig AI analysis and examples from reputable sources like The Guardian and The Economist show its use in various contexts, predominantly in news and media. While not extremely common, it effectively conveys the dynamic aspect of increasing difficulty. When using the phrase, remember that it implies a progression, and avoid using it in static contexts. Consider alternatives like "increasingly complex" or "progressively challenging" to suit the nuance of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasingly complex

Focuses on the escalating complexity rather than difficulty.

progressively challenging

Highlights the increasing difficulty as something progresses.

becoming more intricate

Emphasizes the increasing detail and complication.

growing in difficulty

Directly states the increasing level of difficulty.

more and more complicated

Uses a slightly more verbose but common phrasing.

getting harder

Simplifies the phrase to a more basic expression of increasing difficulty.

increasingly problematic

Shifts the focus to the problems arising from the increasing difficulty.

more convoluted

Suggests a tangled and complex situation.

more demanding

Highlights the increasing effort required.

tougher and tougher

Emphasizes the gradual increase in toughness or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "ever more tricky" in a sentence?

You can use "ever more tricky" to describe a situation that is becoming progressively more difficult or complex. For example: "As the project continued, the tasks became "ever more tricky" to manage."

What are some alternatives to "ever more tricky"?

Alternatives include "increasingly complex", "progressively challenging", or "more and more complicated". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "ever more tricky" formal or informal?

"Ever more tricky" is suitable for neutral to slightly informal contexts. In highly formal or academic writing, you might prefer a more sophisticated alternative like "increasingly intricate".

What makes something "ever more tricky" rather than just "tricky"?

The addition of "ever more" emphasizes that the level of trickiness is increasing over time. It's not just difficult, it's becoming "progressively challenging".