intensify the challenge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intensify the challenge" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing ways to make a task or situation more difficult or demanding. Example: "To improve our team's skills, we need to intensify the challenge by setting higher performance targets."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Research is mixed on the effect of class size on learning, but many educators agree that adding just two students to an already full classroom can intensify the challenge for teachers.

The New York Times

Therefore, it is likely that NK cells have beneficial and deleterious effects during systemic infection, and this will intensify the challenge of manipulating NK cell functions for therapeutic benefit during sepsis.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It will simply intensify the challenges ahead for the international community.

The Guardian

That could intensify the challenges the Saudis face in a volatile area that is flooded with weapons, where Yemen's own efforts to assert control through military force have often backfired.

The New York Times

"Rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, climbing sea levels and more extreme weather events will intensify the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty and conflict," Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement announcing the US defense department's 2014 Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap.

The Guardian

Rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, climbing sea levels, and more extreme weather events will intensify the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty, and conflict.

Huffington Post

In 2014, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hegel wrote, ""Rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, climbing sea levels and more extreme weather events will intensify the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty, and conflict..

Huffington Post

According to the Pentagon's 2014 Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap, "Rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, climbing sea levels, and more extreme weather events will intensify the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty, and conflict.

Los Angeles Times

In case you think I'm exaggerating the importance of U.S. leadership on climate change, review the Department of Defense report from this past fall, about which Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said, "Rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, climbing sea levels, and more extreme weather events will intensify the challenges of global instability, hunger, poverty, and conflict".

Huffington Post

Yet by 2050, not only will the world's population grow by half again to nine billion people, but climate change will intensify the challenges pervading daily life for the rural poor -- accessing adequate food, water and productive farmland, and surviving natural disasters.

Huffington Post

That only intensifies the challenge of training for New England's offense, which seeks to create mismatches by limiting defensive substitutions.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "intensify the challenge", ensure the context clearly indicates what actions or conditions are causing the challenge to become more demanding. For example, "Adding more responsibilities will intensify the challenge of managing this project effectively."

Common error

Avoid using "intensify the challenge" when you simply mean 'to start a challenge'. "Intensify" implies a pre-existing challenge that is becoming more severe, not the initiation of one. Consider using "initiate the challenge" or "begin the task" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intensify the challenge" functions as a verb phrase where "intensify" acts as a transitive verb taking "the challenge" as its direct object. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and the examples show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intensify the challenge" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of making a situation or task more difficult. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not overly common, it's found primarily in news and scientific contexts. When using the phrase, ensure clarity about what's causing the challenge to escalate. Avoid using it to simply introduce a new challenge; instead, employ phrases like "initiate the challenge". Remember, ""intensify the challenge"" is about escalating an existing hurdle, not creating a new one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heighten the difficulty

Replaces "challenge" with "difficulty", emphasizing the inherent complexity rather than the competitive aspect.

exacerbate the difficulty

Highlights a worsening of an already existing difficult situation.

escalate the difficulty

Suggests a gradual increase in the level of difficulty.

aggravate the situation

Shifts focus from a challenge to a general situation, implying a negative impact.

compound the problem

Focuses on adding to an existing problem, making it more complex.

magnify the complexity

Emphasizes increasing the intricate nature of something, rather than just making it harder.

amplify the struggle

Conveys the idea of making a struggle more intense or widespread.

deepen the crisis

Specifically refers to making a crisis more severe.

inflate the obstacle

Implies artificially increasing the size or significance of an obstacle.

underscore the gravity

Emphasizes the seriousness of a situation, rather than making it directly more difficult.

FAQs

How can I use "intensify the challenge" in a sentence?

You can use "intensify the challenge" to describe situations where an existing difficulty is made greater, such as, "The new regulations will "intensify the challenge" for small businesses to compete with larger corporations."

What are some alternatives to "intensify the challenge"?

Alternatives include "heighten the difficulty", "exacerbate the difficulty", or "escalate the difficulty" depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "intensify the challenge"?

Yes, "intensify the challenge" is grammatically correct and used to describe the act of making a difficult situation more challenging.

What's the difference between "intensify the challenge" and "meet the challenge"?

"Intensify the challenge" means to make the challenge more difficult, while "meet the challenge" means to successfully deal with a difficult situation.