slightly intense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly intense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a moderate level of intensity, often in contexts like emotions, experiences, or flavors. Example: "The movie was slightly intense, with moments that kept me on the edge of my seat without being overwhelming."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

And yet this gently spoken, lissom, slightly intense chef has the kind of CV most cooks would kill for.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(Although Harlan's slightly intense explanation of Hubert's telepathic powers is very reminiscent of Nige telling Rob Reiner not to look directly at his most prized guitar).

The Guardian - Film

The night's star speaker was a slightly intense Berliner, whose name has managed to escape me in the subsequent days.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

To illustrate, by comparing the intensities of the CAT-FLAG mRNAs in lanes 5 7 and 12 14 to those from the in vitro transcripts in lanes 1 3 and 8 10, respectively, it can be seen that for both probes, the mRNA intensities are slightly more intense than those obtained for the most dilute in vitro transcripts.

Plosone

The primary aim of our study was to examine the insulin-sensitizing effects of an exercise session performed at either a rather mild intensity (50% peak oxygen uptake [VO2peak]) or a slightly more intense exercise session (65% VO2peak) in obese adults who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes Care

In the non-diseased horse there was a more heterogeneous signal intensity pattern across the PSBs, the signal of the central spongiosa was slightly more intense compared to the peripheral compacta.

BMC Veterinary Research

Their portrayals could even have been slightly more intense.

The New York Times - Arts

Tom was very keen to wear glasses as Posthumus; he had a slightly eager, intense quality.

The Guardian

The most stressed he gets is a slightly more intense scratching of his beard.

The Guardian - Film

So a tomato sauce made with a touch of vodka can be slightly more intense than one made without.

The New York Times - Food

Less obvious is his designation of C sharp as yellow, albeit a slightly less intense yellow than C sharp minor.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly intense" to describe situations, feelings, or flavors that have a noticeable but not overwhelming level of intensity. This provides a nuanced way to express moderation.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "slightly intense" in academic or professional contexts where more precise language may be preferred. Consider using specific adjectives that convey the nature of the intensity more accurately, such as "moderately challenging" or "somewhat complex".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly intense" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase. It modifies a noun by describing its level of intensity in a moderate way. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightly intense" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, albeit not very common. As Ludwig AI indicates, it serves to describe something with a moderate level of intensity, suitable across various registers but best used when a precise, nuanced description is needed. While not frequently used, its appropriateness is confirmed by its presence in diverse sources like the New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat strong

Replaces "intense" with "strong" while retaining "slightly", altering the specific quality being modified to strength instead of intensity.

moderately strong

Substitutes both words, using "moderately" for "slightly" and "strong" for "intense", providing a similar but slightly more formal tone.

mildly powerful

Replaces "intense" with "powerful", shifting the focus to the degree of power, while "mildly" provides the same reduction in intensity.

a bit deep

Uses a more informal construction, replacing "slightly intense" with "a bit deep", which is less direct but conveys a similar feeling, especially in emotional contexts.

relatively great

Employs different wording to suggest something is significantly large or considerable, rather than intense; "relatively" acts as a mitigator.

somewhat severe

Changes the descriptor from intensity to severity, implying a sternness or harshness that is somewhat present, yet less pronounced.

fairly acute

Replaces "intense" with "acute", altering the characteristic to sharpness or keenness, which can describe experiences or sensations.

gently fierce

Combines contradictory terms, using "gently" to temper the more forceful connotation of "fierce", resulting in a similar modification of degree.

slightly extreme

Substitute to "extreme" suggests that something is taken to a high degree, but "slightly" moderates that effect.

reasonably enthusiastic

Changes the adjective to "enthusiastic", and the adverb to "reasonably" which means "to a certain extent".

FAQs

How can I use "slightly intense" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly intense" to describe experiences, emotions, or even flavors that possess a noticeable but not overwhelming degree of intensity. For example, "The movie scene was "somewhat intense", but not frightening."

What are some alternatives to "slightly intense"?

Alternatives include "mildly intense", "somewhat intense", or "moderately intense", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. The choice depends on the specific degree of intensity and the context.

Is there a difference between "slightly intense" and "very intense"?

"Slightly intense" indicates a low to moderate level of intensity, whereas "very intense" suggests a high or extreme level. The former is used when something is somewhat strong or noticeable, while the latter is used when something is extremely powerful or overwhelming.

When is it appropriate to use "slightly intense" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "slightly intense" when you want to convey that something has a degree of intensity that is noticeable but not overpowering. This can be suitable for describing flavors, emotions, experiences, or other phenomena where a moderate level of intensity is present.