progressively harder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "progressively harder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe tasks, challenges, or activities that increase in difficulty over time or in stages. Example: "The training program consists of exercises that become progressively harder to ensure participants build their skills effectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As you progress further through the game, it will become progressively harder for you to win cups and unlock new cups.

WikiHow

Compulsion becomes progressively harder.

The Economist

This exercise gets progressively harder.

The New York Times

That game becomes progressively harder.

The Guardian - Business

American consumers have been getting progressively harder to please.

The New York Times

But completing the 1040 has become progressively harder.

The New York Times

The challenges get progressively harder for England from now onwards.

The Guardian - Sport

The game has 27 levels, which become progressively harder.

The New York Times

It gets progressively harder to get back into the game if you let that happen.

The Guardian - Opinion

The purpose of survival, apparently, is to invent gadgets progressively harder to survive.

The New Yorker

Initially the solutions are readily apparent to most people, but they get progressively harder to discern.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a series of tasks or exercises, use "progressively harder" to clearly indicate an increase in difficulty level over time. For example: "The workout routine includes exercises that become "progressively harder" to build strength and endurance."

Common error

Avoid using "progressively harder" when the difficulty spikes suddenly rather than increasing gradually. Instead, use phrases like "immediately more difficult" or "suddenly challenging" to accurately reflect the change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "progressively harder" functions as an adverbial modifier describing how an action or process changes over time. It indicates a gradual increase in difficulty. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, serving to describe tasks, challenges, or activities that increase in difficulty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "progressively harder" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a gradual increase in difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it fits seamlessly into various contexts, predominantly in News & Media, Academia, and Science. When using this phrase, ensure the increase in difficulty is indeed gradual, avoiding its use for sudden spikes in challenge. Alternatives such as "increasingly difficult" or "more challenging" can be used to convey similar meanings. Overall, "progressively harder" is a reliable and effective way to communicate a gradual increase in difficulty across diverse settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasingly difficult

Focuses on the growing level of difficulty.

becoming more challenging

Emphasizes the challenge aspect of the increasing difficulty.

growing tougher

Uses a more informal term, "tougher", to convey increasing difficulty.

getting more complicated

Highlights the increasing complexity of a task or situation.

escalating in difficulty

Suggests a gradual but steady increase in difficulty.

intensifying in challenge

Focuses on the intensifying nature of the challenge.

becoming more arduous

Uses a more formal word, "arduous", to describe increasing difficulty.

evolving into greater hardship

Emphasizes the increasing hardship associated with the task.

advancing in complexity

Highlights the advancement in the level of complexity.

gradually becoming more demanding

Stresses the increasing demands of the task or situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "progressively harder" to describe anything that increases in difficulty over time. For example: "The puzzles became "progressively harder" as the game went on."

What's a synonym for "progressively harder"?

Alternatives include "increasingly difficult", "more challenging", or "growing tougher", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "more and more harder" instead of "progressively harder"?

While "more and more difficult" is grammatically sound and conveys a similar meaning, "progressively harder" is also acceptable. "More and more harder" is considered grammatically incorrect; it should be "more and more difficult" or simply "harder and harder".

In what contexts is "progressively harder" most commonly used?

The phrase is commonly used in contexts relating to training, games, or education where difficulty levels are intentionally increased. It also appears frequently in general news and media when describing challenges that intensify over time.