much steeper than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much steeper than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the steepness of two slopes or inclines, indicating that one is significantly steeper than the other. Example: "The hill we climbed yesterday was much steeper than the one we tackled last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

But their climb will be much steeper than they hoped.

The Economist

He's never hiked this road, and it's much steeper than he would have thought.

The New Yorker

The slope of this recession is much steeper than the slope of the basic relationship.

The Economist

But the falloff in physical functioning was much steeper than the mental slump.

The New York Times - Health

Compared with a year earlier, Midwest output fell 13.6percentt, much steeper than the 7.5percentt national decline.

The New York Times

The recommendations for minimum and maximum slope in particular are too restrictive, with examples of successful WH taking place on slopes much steeper than the stipulated guidelines.

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A-B-C

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

That was a much steeper cut than the $4.7 billion analysts had expected, according to Thomson Reuters.

The New York Times

As Smithfield flourished, American hog farms vanished at a much steeper rate than have farms in general.

The New York Times

Consumer prices have dropped 13percentt here since 1999, a pace much steeper even than Japan's deflation, with only limited relief in sight.

The New York Times

Government data showed industrial production falling for the fourth consecutive month in June, down 0.7percentt from May, a much steeper fall than most economists had forecast.

The New York Times

On Tuesday, a closely watched index of manufacturing activity by the Institute of Supply Management showed a much steeper drop than analysts had expected and reached its lowest level since November 2001.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing slopes or rates of change, ensure the context clearly defines what is being measured to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify whether you're referring to a physical incline, a financial decline, or a rate of progress.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a "much steeper than" decline or increase implies a direct proportionality. A steeper decline might start from a higher point, so understand that "steeper" only refers to the rate of change, not the absolute values.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much steeper than" functions primarily as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to describe something having a greater degree of steepness, decline, or intensity when compared to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatically correct and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

53%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "much steeper than" is a commonly used and grammatically sound comparative phrase that effectively highlights a significant difference in degree, typically rate, decline, or slope. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its widespread use spans across various domains including news, science, and academia. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear to avoid misinterpretations, and recognize that while it emphasizes rate, it does not necessarily imply direct proportionality. Consider using alternative phrases like "significantly sharper than" or "considerably more inclined than" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much more sharply inclined than

It adds an adverb to enhance the meaning of "inclined".

significantly sharper than

Uses "sharper" as a synonym for "steeper," suggesting a more acute angle or gradient.

considerably more inclined than

Replaces "steeper" with a synonym and uses "inclined" to refer to a slope, implying a notable difference in steepness.

appreciably more inclined than

Similar to 'considerably more inclined than' but with a slightly different emphasis on the degree of difference.

far more abrupt than

Substitutes "steeper" with "abrupt" to suggest a sudden or sharp change that is greater in magnitude.

noticeably more acute than

Replaces "steeper" with "acute," emphasizing the angle of the slope; "noticeably" highlights the ease of perceiving the difference.

considerably more vertical than

Emphasizes the vertical aspect of the slope, using "vertical" as a descriptor and "considerably" to show the magnitude.

markedly more precipitous than

Employs "precipitous" to convey a very steep incline, while "markedly" emphasizes the significant difference.

substantially greater gradient than

Focuses on gradient, the rate of change of slope, and uses "substantially" to emphasize the larger difference.

considerably more radically than

Emphasizes the intensity of the steepness.

FAQs

How can I use "much steeper than" in a sentence?

You can use "much steeper than" to compare the rate, slope, or intensity of one thing to another. For example: "The decline in profits was "much steeper than" anticipated."

What are some alternatives to using "much steeper than"?

Alternatives include phrases like "far more abrupt than", "significantly sharper than", or "considerably more inclined than", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "much steeper than" to describe a negative trend?

While often used for negative trends (like declines or losses), "much steeper than" can also describe positive trends. For example, "The increase in user engagement was "much steeper than" projected."

What's the difference between "much steeper than" and "slightly steeper than"?

"Much steeper than" indicates a significant difference in steepness or rate, whereas "slightly steeper than" implies a small or marginal difference. The choice depends on the magnitude of the contrast you're describing.