intensified

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "intensified" is correct and could be used in written English.
You can use it when you wish to emphasize that something has increased in intensity or strength. For example: "The storm intensified quickly, and soon the streets were flooded."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its roots are in the second world war and the mutual loathing of both teams and sets of fans intensified after "The Mother of all Defeats", when the Germans famously triumphed over the Dutch in the 1974 World Cup final.

The Guardian - Sport

As Syria's civil war has intensified, thousands of children have died in brutal attacks and many more have been injured, traumatised or forced to flee their homes.

The Guardian

The momentum for change on abortion laws has intensified since the Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar died from blood poisoning after a Galway hospital refused to terminate her pregnancy last autumn.

The Guardian

Prayers, led by a man with a pair of cymbals, started as slow chanting then accelerated and intensified as the sound of the cymbals rose from a tinkle to a crash before falling silent again.

The Guardian - Travel

There have been rumours of a feature-length version of the popular BBC series for a number of years now, intensified recently by the reunion of the characters in Back and Forth, the short film currently showing at the millennium dome in the Skyscape cinema.

The Guardian - Film

The rage only intensified when it became known that the killer was Mohamed Merah, a young French citizen of Algerian origin.

The Guardian

Most importantly, throughout the 1950s, as violence between the French authorities and Algerian nationalists intensified, Camus found himself endlessly compromised.

The Guardian

In the past few weeks these projections, combined with their own polling, have led Labour strategists to calculate that seats such as Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Finchley and Golders Green, and Battersea are now in contention – and Labour's "ground war" has been intensified accordingly.

The Guardian

The first fatal accident for 12 years involving a grand prix driver initially brought with it a stunned reaction, intensified by the spectacular incident on Friday when the Brazilian Rubens Barrichello emerged with comparatively minor injuries after losing control of his Jordan and crashing at more than 120mph.

The Guardian - Sport

As the fighting between police and the banlieusards intensified, riots broke out in major cities across France.

The Guardian

Losses from Libya and from Iran under intensified sanctions since mid-2012 have so far accounted for the largest portion of supply disruptions from the region over the past two years, with smaller additional losses from Iraq, Yemen and Sudan, and war-torn Syria.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "intensified" when you want to emphasize a gradual or significant increase in something, such as effort, feeling, or activity. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is becoming more intense.

Common error

Avoid using "intensified" with abstract nouns that do not logically allow for degrees of intensity. For example, instead of saying "the problem of existence intensified", opt for a more appropriate verb like "became more apparent" or "was recognized".

Linguistic Context

The word "intensified" functions primarily as a verb in the past tense or as a past participle. It describes the act of making or becoming more intense. Ludwig AI confirms this use through numerous examples, indicating its prevalence in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "intensified" is a versatile verb form used to describe an increase in the strength or degree of something. Ludwig AI analysis shows that it is grammatically sound and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific media. While alternatives like "escalated" or "heightened" might be suitable depending on the nuance required, "intensified" offers a clear and concise way to convey that something has become more pronounced. Remember to use "intensified" with nouns that logically permit scaling in intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

escalated

Focuses specifically on an increase in intensity, often in a negative or conflict-related context.

heightened

Implies an increase in degree or amount, often referring to emotions or sensations.

increased

A general term for becoming larger or greater in size, amount, or degree.

amplified

Suggests an increase in volume or strength, often used metaphorically.

strengthened

Implies making something stronger or more resistant.

sharpened

Suggests making something more acute or intense, often used for focus or senses.

stepped up

Implies taking more action or effort to increase something.

augmented

Implies adding something to increase its size or value.

aggravated

Refers specifically to making something worse or more severe.

compounded

Implies adding to an existing problem or situation, making it more complex.

FAQs

How can I use "intensified" in a sentence?

You can use "intensified" to describe a process of increasing the magnitude or strength of something. For instance, "The competition between the two companies "intensified" as the deadline approached."

What are some alternatives to the word "intensified"?

Alternatives to "intensified" include "escalated", "heightened", or "increased", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "the pressure intensified"?

Yes, it is correct. "The pressure intensified" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe an increase in pressure, either literally or figuratively.

What's the difference between "intensified" and "increased"?

"Increased" is a general term for something becoming larger or greater. "Intensified" implies that something has not only increased but has also become more concentrated or potent in its effect. For example, "the heat increased" vs "the scrutiny "intensified"".