become more intense than before; escalate; exacerbate
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb phrase
to become more intense; to escalate; to exacerbate
formalDescribes a negative situation that intensifies or worsens. Often carries a connotation of intentional or reckless aggravation.
Tā他
de的
huài坏
xí习
guàn惯
bù不
jǐn仅
méi没
gǎi改
，
fǎn反
ér而
biàn变
běn本
jiā加
lì厉
le了
。
His bad habit not only didn't improve, but intensified even more.
Fēng风
bào暴
biàn变
běn本
jiā加
lì厉
，
cuī摧
huǐ毁
le了
gèng更
duō多
fáng房
wū屋
。
The storm intensified and destroyed even more houses.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Gōng公
sī司
wèi为
le了
jié节
shěng省
chéng成
běn本
，
duì对
yuán员
gōng工
de的
bō剥
xuē削
biàn变
běn本
jiā加
lì厉
。
To save costs, the company's exploitation of its employees has escalated.
Zhèng政
fǔ府
chū出
tái台
xīn新
zhèng政
cè策
hòu后
，
wèn问
tí题
bù不
dàn但
méi没
jiě解
jué决
，
fǎn反
ér而
biàn变
běn本
jiā加
lì厉
。
After the government introduced new policies, the problem not only remained unsolved, but got even worse.