increasingly arduous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increasingly arduous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a task or situation that is becoming more difficult or demanding over time. Example: "The project has become increasingly arduous as we face more challenges and tighter deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Forging all this into the massive and complex structures of the later novels became increasingly arduous.

The Guardian - Books

Through the 1990s and into the new decade Hugo had another, much less predictable, and increasingly arduous, role.

The Guardian

Das took up the Herculean task after villagers found the 7km trek over the mountain increasingly arduous.

The Guardian

A contest that had been close, clever and bruising went the way of the 33-year-old Macklin, by 113-113 and two cards of 115-111, to give him the vacant IBF Inter-Continental belt – and a sliver of encouragement to continue in a sport that has become increasingly arduous for the Irish Brummie.

The Guardian - Sport

Firstly, any definition and demarcation of a city is in itself becoming an increasingly arduous task.

City, Territory and Architecture

With the booming economy and increasing population, the accumulation of waste has become an increasingly arduous issue and has aroused the attention from all sectors of society.

Waste Management

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Ma Joad's caregiving all along the arduous, discouraging, and increasingly dispiriting trek west expands to the circle of famished camp children who circle her trash fire, as she works up a meager supper in the Joad stew kettle.

Huffington Post

As companies, workers and jobs become more fluid across permeable borders, it will become increasingly necessary to move money freely without arduous costs or constraints.

TechCrunch

And the composition of the court changed around him, moving increasingly to the right, less hospitable to the arduous task of applying the facts of each case.

The Guardian - Opinion

The flipside of the unprecedentedly early nominations date has been an unduly extended second phase of campaigning and voting: six arduous weeks of little more than the increasingly chipper Team Argo stocking up their trophy cabinet.

The Guardian - Film

The dark night of the soul has increasingly given way to public confessions on Oprah and Sally Jessy Raphael; the arduous process of genuine contrition, to mechanical avowals of regret -- and equally automated dispensations of forgiveness (or forgetfulness).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "increasingly arduous" to describe situations where the level of difficulty or effort has noticeably increased over a period. This is particularly effective in narratives or reports tracking changes.

Common error

Avoid using "increasingly arduous" for tasks that are inherently difficult from the start. The phrase implies a change over time, so it's less suitable for describing a consistently challenging activity. Consider using "arduous" alone instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasingly arduous" functions as an intensifier modifying an adjective. As evidenced by Ludwig, it serves to amplify the degree of difficulty associated with a task, process, or situation. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "increasingly arduous" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes something becoming more difficult over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase can be used to describe situations where the level of difficulty or effort has noticeably increased. While not as frequent as simpler alternatives, its use is distributed across News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources. When using this phrase, remember that it is most effective when highlighting a change in difficulty over time, and it is also important to consider more direct alternatives when the phrase seems exaggerated for simple context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progressively challenging

Replaces "arduous" with "challenging" and "increasingly" with "progressively", emphasizing the growing difficulty.

ever more difficult

Uses "ever more" to intensify the difficulty, offering a slightly more emphatic alternative.

steadily demanding

Substitutes "arduous" with "demanding" and "increasingly" with "steadily", highlighting the rising demands of a situation.

growing in difficulty

Directly states the increase in difficulty, providing a clear and simple alternative.

becoming more strenuous

Replaces "arduous" with "strenuous", which focuses on the effort required, and "increasingly" with "becoming more".

mounting in difficulty

Uses "mounting" to illustrate the accumulation of difficulty over time.

escalating in complexity

Shifts the focus to complexity rather than difficulty, suggesting a more intricate challenge.

gradually taxing

Replaces "arduous" with "taxing" and "increasingly" with "gradually", emphasizing the draining effect.

intensifying in rigor

Focuses on the increasing strictness or severity of the situation.

more and more taxing

Highlights the cumulative effect of the task or situation becoming more difficult over time.

FAQs

What does "increasingly arduous" mean?

The phrase "increasingly arduous" describes something that is becoming more difficult, strenuous, or challenging over time. It suggests a gradual increase in the level of effort or difficulty required.

How can I use "increasingly arduous" in a sentence?

You might say, "The climb became "increasingly arduous" as we gained altitude," or "The project has become "increasingly arduous" due to unforeseen complications."

What are some alternatives to "increasingly arduous"?

Alternatives include "progressively challenging", "ever more difficult", or "steadily demanding". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "increasingly arduous"?

While "arduous" already implies difficulty, "increasingly arduous" emphasizes that the difficulty is growing over time. This can be useful in situations where you want to highlight the changing nature of the challenge.