harder to fathom

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harder to fathom" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that is difficult to understand or comprehend. Example: "The complexities of the universe can often feel harder to fathom than we might expect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Arts

Books

Music

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

A few, though, are harder to fathom.

The Economist

He is harder to fathom.

The Guardian - Sport

The macroeconomic outlook is becoming harder to fathom.

The Economist

The lessons from England's performance were much harder to fathom.

Independent

Jeter without the Yankees, though, is somewhat harder to fathom.

The New York Times

The character of Engleby's oddness, though, is harder to fathom.

The Guardian - Books

Mixed up with politics, it has become even harder to fathom.

The Economist

It's the women, and especially MacKenzie, who are harder to fathom.

The New York Times - Arts

That has made what has occurred over the last two weeks even harder to fathom.

The New York Times - Sports

Yet if we look closer, the song's meaning becomes harder to fathom.

The Guardian - Music

Ryan Bastinac's arrival from North is a little harder to fathom.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience when using the phrase "harder to fathom". While widely accepted, alternatives might be more suitable for certain audiences. When speaking with children, using simpler alternatives like more difficult to understand is more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "harder to fathom" for simple misunderstandings. This phrase implies a deeper, more intrinsic difficulty in understanding, not just a momentary lapse in comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harder to fathom" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something challenging to understand or comprehend. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English, appearing in contexts where deeper understanding is required.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Sports

9%

Arts

6%

Less common in

Books

3%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "harder to fathom" is a frequently used phrase, appearing across various reliable sources and contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and most commonly functions to describe something that presents a challenge to understand. The phrase fits comfortably in neutral to formal registers, making it suitable for news, academic, and professional environments. While alternatives like "more difficult to understand" exist, "harder to fathom" uniquely implies a need for deeper investigation or thought. Remember to use it when something isn't immediately clear and requires more than just a surface-level understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more difficult to understand

Emphasizes the difficulty in understanding, using a more straightforward and common phrasing.

more challenging to comprehend

Highlights the intellectual challenge involved in understanding something.

more obscure to grasp

Focuses on the lack of clarity making it difficult to mentally seize or understand.

more enigmatic to perceive

Suggests a mysterious or puzzling quality that makes understanding difficult.

more abstruse to discern

Indicates that the subject is abstract and difficult to grasp intellectually.

more complex to unravel

Implies that understanding requires untangling complicated details.

more impenetrable to penetrate

Suggests that the subject is resistant to understanding or insight.

more beyond comprehension

Highlights that something cannot be grasped and is beyond the ability to understand.

more defying explanation

Emphasizes that something goes against the rules of understanding and cannot be explained.

more resistant to interpretation

Indicates that the subject does not lend itself easily to a clear explanation or understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "harder to fathom" in a sentence?

You can use "harder to fathom" to describe something that is difficult to understand. For instance, "The reasons behind his sudden departure were "harder to fathom" than anyone expected."

What are some alternatives to "harder to fathom"?

Alternatives include "more difficult to understand", "more challenging to comprehend", or "more obscure to grasp", depending on the context.

Is "harder to fathom" a formal or informal phrase?

"Harder to fathom" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is generally more common in writing and speech that aim for a slightly elevated tone. It is fine in news media, but "difficult to understand" might be more common in very informal conversations.

What's the difference between "harder to fathom" and "harder to understand"?

While similar, "harder to fathom" suggests a greater depth of mystery or complexity than "harder to understand". "Fathom" implies exploring or investigating to gain understanding, suggesting that the difficulty lies in needing to uncover hidden meanings.