increasingly tougher

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increasingly tougher" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or challenge that is becoming more difficult over time. Example: "The competition in the market is becoming increasingly tougher as new players enter the industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

And that makes it increasingly tougher.

The New York Times

As President Obama imposed increasingly tougher sanctions on Honduras, the lobbying intensified.

The New York Times

For years now, the European Union has imposed increasingly tougher quotas on cod catches, but populations have continued to dwindle.

The New York Times

The European Union is taking an increasingly tougher line and the boycott movement is gaining traction in the US, where it had previously struggled to win support.

The Guardian - Business

Wholesalers say they are losing money because publishers are paying too little for distribution of their magazines and that the retailers are also demanding increasingly tougher terms.

The New York Times

Despite being protected by increasingly tougher legislation, raptors remain a target for some landowners who blame them for reducing stocks of the game birds on which they prey.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The economics have become increasingly tough.

The New York Times

Life on the tour is increasingly tough, he has found.

The Guardian - Sport

In its final weeks, the Hewlett-Packard proxy fight is becoming increasingly tough and increasingly personal.

The New York Times

Despite strong world demand for Argentina's farm exports, she will find the going increasingly tough.

The Economist

Despite such support, Mr. Peralta is facing an increasingly tough campaign.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "increasingly tougher", ensure the context clearly establishes a baseline for comparison. For instance, specify what is becoming "increasingly tougher" compared to a previous state or standard.

Common error

Do not use "increasingly tougher" when the context already implies a growing difficulty. For example, avoid saying "the already challenging task became increasingly tougher"; instead, use "the task became increasingly challenging" or "tougher".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasingly tougher" functions as an adverbial modifier describing how something is changing over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to show that a situation or challenge is growing in difficulty. Examples show it modifying nouns like "sanctions", "conditions", and "competition".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "increasingly tougher" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that is becoming more difficult over time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. It's frequently found in news and media, as well as scientific and formal business contexts. While several alternatives exist, such as "progressively more challenging" or "steadily more demanding", "increasingly tougher" provides a concise and widely accepted way to convey the escalating nature of a challenge or situation. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes a baseline for comparison to highlight the growing difficulty effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progressively more challenging

Emphasizes the growing difficulty as a series of challenges.

becoming significantly harder

Highlights the increasing level of difficulty over time.

steadily more demanding

Focuses on the rising demands or requirements.

ever more rigorous

Stresses the escalating strictness and precision.

growing more stringent

Implies a continuous increase in strictness or severity.

gradually more arduous

Focuses on the increasing effort required.

intensifying in severity

Highlights the escalation of the seriousness of something.

mounting in difficulty

Emphasizes the rising level of difficulty.

becoming acutely difficult

Underscores the sharpness and intensity of the growing difficulty.

more acutely challenging

Underscores the sharpness and intensity of the growing challenges.

FAQs

What does "increasingly tougher" mean?

The phrase "increasingly tougher" indicates a gradual increase in difficulty or severity over time. It suggests that something is not only difficult but is also becoming more challenging.

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

You can use "increasingly tougher" to describe situations where challenges or conditions are escalating. For example: "The competition in the market is becoming "increasingly tougher"."

Which is correct, "increasingly tougher" or "more and more tough"?

"Increasingly tougher" is generally preferred over "more and more tough" because it sounds more natural and professional. While both convey a similar meaning, "increasingly tougher" is more concise and widely accepted in formal writing.

What are some alternatives to "increasingly tougher"?

Alternatives to "increasingly tougher" include "progressively more challenging", "becoming significantly harder", or "steadily more demanding". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.