progressively difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "progressively difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, task, or challenge that becomes increasingly harder over time or in stages. Example: "The exam was designed to be progressively difficult, starting with basic questions and advancing to more complex problems."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

In each episode, three contestants compete in progressively difficult challenge rounds for the chance at a cash prize.

The New Yorker

Digital storage media become progressively difficult (or impossible) to read over time, due to "bit rot," obsolescence of media, and reduced availability of devices to read them.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mentor gave them progressively difficult missions, extricated them when they were over their heads, wrote confidential reports on their progress, and made recommendations for new assignments designed to develop strengths and eliminate weaknesses.

Harvard Business Review

To measure effects of the social environment on the interaction between cognition and emotion during aging, we focused on a natural learning context and devised the sectored foraging field, a progressively difficult spatial navigation task.

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

The social impact of jobs is something that shouldn't be taken lightly, especially in today's fast-paced world where technology makes it progressively difficult to separate work from home life.

Forbes

This may work well for the short term but over time the conductor burns out, his/her orchestra quits practicing and it is progressively difficult to sell tickets for the next symphony.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Furthermore, as an individual progresses upward, it becomes progressively more difficult to successfully fulfill the needs of each higher level.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They would get progressively more difficult.

Independent

"It becomes progressively more difficult after three," he said.

The New York Times

Then Rob assigned me a series of progressively more difficult cooking tasks.

The New York Times

Some aspects of language learning become progressively more difficult with age, others may get easier.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "progressively difficult" to clearly indicate that the level of difficulty increases incrementally over time, rather than being consistently challenging from the start.

Common error

Avoid using "progressively difficult" when you actually mean something is consistently challenging. "Progressively difficult" implies a gradual increase, while "consistently difficult" suggests a steady state of high challenge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "progressively difficult" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes something that increases in difficulty over time or in stages. Ludwig examples showcase its use in describing missions, tasks, or general situations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "progressively difficult" is a grammatically sound and useful way to describe something that increases in difficulty over time. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's often used in science, news, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects a gradual increase in difficulty, rather than consistent or immediate challenge. Consider alternatives such as "increasingly challenging" or "gradually harder" to fine-tune your intended meaning. Remember, "progressively difficult" suggests a journey, not a constant state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasingly challenging

Focuses on the stimulating and demanding aspect of the difficulty.

gradually harder

Emphasizes the step-by-step nature of the increase in difficulty.

becoming more complex

Highlights the growing intricacy and sophistication.

growing in severity

Suggests the difficulty escalates to a more intense or serious level.

escalating in intensity

Implies a rapid and dramatic increase in the level of difficulty.

step-by-step difficult

Explicitly denotes a stage-wise progression of difficulty.

systematically challenging

Indicates difficulty increasing as part of a plan or organized method.

becoming increasingly arduous

Focuses on the demanding effort required by the increasing difficulty.

raising the difficulty level

Emphasizes the act of intentionally making something more difficult.

advancing in complexity

Stresses the forward movement toward a more intricate and difficult state.

FAQs

How can I use "progressively difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "progressively difficult" to describe tasks or challenges that increase in difficulty over time. For example, "The course material was designed to be "progressively difficult", starting with basic concepts and gradually introducing more complex topics."

What are some alternatives to "progressively difficult"?

Some alternatives to "progressively difficult" include "increasingly challenging", "gradually harder", or "becoming more complex" depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "progressively more difficult"?

While "progressively difficult" is perfectly acceptable, "progressively more difficult" is also commonly used and not necessarily redundant. The inclusion of "more" can add emphasis to the increasing level of difficulty.

What's the difference between "progressively difficult" and "consistently difficult"?

"Progressively difficult" describes something that becomes harder over time, while "consistently difficult" describes something that is challenging at all times. For example, a video game may have levels that are "progressively difficult", while a subject like quantum physics may be "consistently difficult".