it was rather intense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was rather intense" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an experience, event, or situation that was emotionally or physically demanding or powerful. Example: "The movie was gripping, and by the end, I felt exhausted because it was rather intense."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Arts

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's rather intense so I shut my eyes only to find equally vivid images inside my eyelids, a private constellation of stars blazing purple, blue and yellow.

The Guardian - Arts

It is rather intense and cinematic, although I was careful to make the lights look as though they could be street lights". The series is not about the issue of leaving dogs in hot cars, though Martin, a confirmed dog-lover and owner of Moose, a Miniature Schnauzer, is obviously aware of the animal welfare debate.

BBC

The lifestyle intervention in GEMINAL was rather intense, allowing only 10percentt of calories from dietary fat, and requiring more than an hour and a half of exercise and meditation daily.

Huffington Post

17 Physical activity in our intervention was rather intense, amounted to 180 minutes a week, and was complemented by home exercises, while the weekly physical activity lessons in the control group focused less on endurance.

British Medical Journal

The poaching and the illegal trade were rather intense, as signaled by the impressive amount of turtles advertised online.

Crime Science

For the GaP/GaNP NW, on the other hand, the PL emission was found to be rather intense at RT even from an individual NW, though significantly weaker than that at 5 K.

Nanoscale Research Letters

JFB: The subject matter of A Perfect Victim is rather intense and startling.

Huffington Post

Of course, this is 2012, so the social media aspect surrounding the relaunch of "TMNT" is rather intense.

Huffington Post

Beyond my care team, my doctor has worked with me to help me manage my stress and anxiety levels, which helps me cope better on days when the pain is rather intense.

Huffington Post

The ion series is rather intense, in contrast to experiments with other diatomics molecules.

ChemPhysChem

While there was perhaps some ability to control or fight off of the urge to cough or an individual cough, there was little control over the cough during an episode: I have it under control with the medication, but I still get some fits that usually last five minutes, and they're rather intense, uh, in coughing....I had a coughing jag at work one day that was totally embarrassing.

Cough

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was rather intense" to describe situations where the level of energy, emotion, or difficulty was noticeably high. This phrase works well when you want to convey that something exceeded a moderate level of intensity without being extreme.

Common error

Avoid using "rather" excessively in formal or academic writing. While "it was rather intense" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound less direct and more hesitant. Consider stronger, more precise adjectives to convey the intensity, such as "it was extremely intense" or "remarkably intense".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was rather intense" functions as a descriptive statement. Ludwig indicates it's a valid and usable expression. It typically serves to characterize an event, experience, or situation as possessing a significant degree of intensity, without necessarily being overwhelming.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Arts

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was rather intense" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, as validated by Ludwig, employed to describe experiences, events, or situations that possess a notable degree of intensity without being overwhelming. While generally acceptable, stronger or more precise adjectives may be preferred in highly formal or academic writing. This phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, followed by scientific contexts. Related phrases include "it proved quite demanding" and "it felt incredibly overwhelming", offering alternative ways to express similar sentiments. When using "it was rather intense", ensure the context supports a level of intensity that is noticeable but not necessarily extreme.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it felt incredibly overwhelming

This phrase highlights the feeling of being inundated or overpowered by the experience, emphasizing the subjective emotional impact.

it turned out to be quite powerful

This alternative emphasizes the impact and strength of the experience or event, rather than its difficulty or emotional intensity.

it proved quite demanding

This alternative uses 'demanding' which suggests a task or situation required significant effort or resources, emphasizing the effort involved.

it registered as extremely impactful

This alternative focuses on the significant effect or impression left by the experience, emphasizing its lasting influence.

it struck me as deeply affecting

This option highlights the emotional effect the experience had on someone, focusing on the emotional depth of the impact.

it played out as deeply moving

This suggests that the experience had a strong emotional effect, often in a positive or poignant way.

it came across as highly charged

This suggests an emotional or energetic atmosphere surrounding the event, focusing on the emotional energy present.

it evolved into something remarkably fierce

This conveys the idea that the situation became very strong or aggressive, highlighting the intensity and potential conflict.

it manifested as quite severe

This implies the experience or situation was serious or harsh in nature, often used for negative or critical situations.

it unfolded as considerably rigorous

This alternative emphasizes the challenging and demanding nature of the experience, especially in terms of effort or precision.

FAQs

How can I use "it was rather intense" in a sentence?

You can use "it was rather intense" to describe situations that are more than moderately intense but not overwhelmingly so. For example, "The training session "it was rather intense", but I learned a lot".

What are some alternatives to "it was rather intense"?

Alternatives include "it was quite demanding", "it was very powerful", or "it felt incredibly overwhelming", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was rather intense" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "it was rather intense" might be perceived as slightly informal for academic or highly professional contexts. Consider stronger or more specific vocabulary for formal settings.

What's the difference between "it was intense" and "it was rather intense"?

"It was intense" suggests a high degree of intensity. Adding "rather" softens the statement slightly, indicating a level of intensity that is noticeable but not necessarily extreme. For example, saying "it was intense" may imply it was overwhelming.