increasingly serious

USAGE SUMMARY

'increasingly serious' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a situation that is becoming more serious or severe over time. For example: "The consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly serious, with rising sea levels and extreme weather events having devastating effects for many communities around the world."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's an increasingly serious problem.

Harvard Business Review

But the effort has backfired, prompting increasingly serious internal clashes.

The New York Times

But many of them are increasingly serious about trying.

The Economist

The problems caused by gambling are increasingly serious.

L'Encéphale

Does it involve availability/acceptability of increasingly serious weapons?

The Guardian

Either way, bootlegging has become an increasingly serious problem.

The New York Times

As I wrote here recently, Hong Kong's space constraints are becoming an increasingly serious problem.

The New York Times

But as the day went on, the comments became increasingly serious.

The New York Times

But they have kept at it for nearly 90 increasingly serious years.

The New York Times - Sports

It increases frustration in the ranks as forces encounter increasingly serious obstacles.

The New York Times

Coal dust is an increasingly serious problem in underground coal mines.

Process Safety and Environmental Protection

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "increasingly serious" to describe situations that are not just serious, but are demonstrably becoming more so over time. Provide context to illustrate the progression.

Common error

Avoid using "increasingly serious" to describe a situation that is already at its peak severity. The phrase implies a progression, not a static state. For situations that are very bad without being progressive, consider phrases such as "critical", "grave" or "severe".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasingly serious" functions as an intensifier modifying an adjective. It describes how a situation or problem is escalating in severity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, reinforcing its role in conveying a growing sense of concern.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "increasingly serious" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe situations that are worsening over time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its frequent occurrence in scientific, news, and business contexts underscores its versatility. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly demonstrates a progression in severity rather than a static condition. Alternatives like "steadily worsening" or "progressively critical" can be considered for nuanced variations. Remember that using "increasingly serious" implies an escalation that should be evident to the reader.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

growing in severity

Directly states the increase in the harshness or graveness of something.

steadily worsening

Focuses on the gradual decline or deterioration of a situation.

worsening steadily

Mirrors "steadily worsening" but emphasizes the negative progression.

gradually intensifying

Emphasizes the increasing strength or intensity of something.

progressively critical

Highlights the escalating urgency or criticality of a situation.

becoming alarming

Draws attention to the worrying or frightening nature of a development.

escalating rapidly

Suggests a quick and accelerating increase in seriousness.

mounting concern

Highlights the increase in worry or anxiety surrounding a particular issue.

acutely critical

Highlights a sudden change from less to more critical.

heightening drastically

Highlights sudden and important change with a sense of risk.

FAQs

How do you use "increasingly serious" in a sentence?

You can use "increasingly serious" to describe a problem or situation that is becoming more severe over time. For example: "The effects of climate change are becoming "increasingly serious"." Or "The political turmoil became "increasingly serious" as the days passed."

What are some alternatives to "increasingly serious"?

Alternatives include "steadily worsening", "gradually intensifying", or "progressively critical" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "increasingly serious" formal or informal?

"Increasingly serious" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, as it is a commonly understood and grammatically correct phrase. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the communication.

What makes a situation "increasingly serious" rather than just "serious"?

A situation is "increasingly serious" when there is evidence or indication that its severity or negative impact is growing over time. The "increasingly" suggests a progression or escalation, while "serious" describes a state of concern without necessarily implying change.