intensifying the strain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intensifying the strain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations that are becoming more difficult or stressful, often in contexts related to pressure, challenges, or emotional states. Example: "The ongoing conflict is intensifying the strain on the community, making it harder for families to cope."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Businesses have been absorbing some of the higher costs themselves while passing much of the increase to consumers, intensifying the strain on households just as joblessness expands and spending power shrinks.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But the two weeks and two days that might be available for a full legal process would clearly intensify the strain on the Florida court system.

The New York Times

Years of fiscal profligacy, expensive military campaigns and, more recently, Keynesian deficit spending, have intensified the strains that aging populations are putting on the welfare states of Europe and the entitlement programs of the United States.

The New York Times

Furthermore, bolt-hole clearance intensifies the surface strain concentration and the out-of-plane deformation of the joints.

Composite Structures

Problems with emotion regulation can provoke negative social interactions which further intensify the psychological strain of the affected person and his/her relatives and in turn heighten the risk of developing comorbid disorders.

BMC Psychiatry

This intensified the already strained relationship between Gates and Mayor Tom Bradley, himself an ex-policeman, but Gates refused to step down.

The Guardian

If anything, careful U.S. consideration of its military options could strengthen the international coalition against Iran, deepen Iran's isolation, and intensify the internal strains that could ultimately doom the regime.

The New York Times

It cannot be denied that introducing a quick specialist referral procedure might temporarily intensify this strain, in terms of an increased use of specialised health care resources.

BMC Women's Health

Unfortunately, our data do not allow us to discriminate whether this level of recombination through superinfection intensified the fitness of HIV strains at that time or merely contributed to viral diversity.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Zynga's strains seem likely to intensify the pressure, as major Web services seek to figure how to make it across the chasm to mobile without surrendering revenues they managed to secure in their desktop-centric incarnations.

Huffington Post

But if bond market pressure intensifies, straining the cohesion of the euro zone, some new trade-off between greater risk-sharing on debt and tougher European supervision of weaker countries' fiscal policies may be back on the agenda.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "intensifying the strain", consider the specific type of strain you are describing. Be clear about whether it's emotional, financial, or physical, to provide context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "intensifying the strain" in casual conversation or informal writing. The phrase carries a level of formality that may sound out of place in relaxed settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "making things harder" or "adding more pressure."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intensifying the strain" functions as a verb phrase that typically acts as a predicate in a sentence. It describes an action that is making a situation more difficult or stressful. Ludwig AI validates this through its analysis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intensifying the strain" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe situations where pressure or difficulty is on the rise. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its frequency is rare based on the provided examples. Predominantly found in news and scientific contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral to formal tone. For alternative phrasing, consider "increasing the pressure" or "heightening the tension", depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasing the pressure

Focuses on the element of pressure rather than the broader concept of strain.

amplifying the pressure

Similar to increasing the pressure but suggests a greater degree of intensification.

heightening the tension

Emphasizes the aspect of tension, often used in contexts involving conflict or anxiety.

exacerbating the burden

Highlights the aspect of making a burden heavier or more difficult to bear.

aggravating the stress

Specifically refers to making stress worse.

deepening the stress

Suggests a more profound or significant increase in stress.

worsening the load

Emphasizes the increasing heaviness of a load, whether physical or metaphorical.

inflaming the difficulty

Implies a passionate or heated increase in difficulty.

escalating the difficulty

Focuses on the rising level of difficulty in a situation.

compounding the challenge

Highlights the cumulative effect of challenges making a situation more complex.

FAQs

How can I use "intensifying the strain" in a sentence?

You can use "intensifying the strain" to describe situations where pressure or difficulty is increasing, such as "The economic crisis is intensifying the strain on families." or "The constant criticism is intensifying the strain on their relationship."

What are some alternatives to "intensifying the strain"?

You can use alternatives like "increasing the pressure", "heightening the tension", or "exacerbating the burden" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "intensifying the strain" or "increasing the strain"?

"Intensifying the strain" and "increasing the strain" are quite similar, but "intensifying" suggests a more significant or severe increase in pressure. Choose the one that best reflects the degree of pressure you want to convey.

What kind of situations typically involve "intensifying the strain"?

"Intensifying the strain" is often used in situations involving economic hardship, interpersonal conflict, or systemic pressures. These are contexts where existing difficulties are becoming more pronounced.