schwierigere

Schwierigere is the comparative form of the German adjective schwierig, meaning “more difficult.” It is used to express a higher degree of difficulty and typically appears before a noun in attributive position.

In singular, it inflects to agree with gender and case: der schwierigere Mann (masculine), die schwierigere Aufgabe (feminine), das schwierigere Kind (neuter). In plural, after a definite article, the form is die schwierigeren Aufgaben. Without a determiner, the plural form also uses schwierigere in certain contexts, as in schwierige oder schwierigere Aufgaben, depending on the sentence structure.

Schwierigere is formed from the stem schwierig with the comparative ending -er, plus the appropriate ending for the noun it precedes. When used predicatively (after a linking verb like sein), the typical form is schwieriger rather than schwierigere, for example: Die Aufgabe ist schwieriger.

Usage notes: difficult comparisons are commonly introduced with als, as in schwieriger als jenes oder dieses. The word is often contrasted with synonyms such as komplexer (more complex) or anspruchsvoller (more demanding), depending on the nuance desired.

Etymology is rooted in the Germanic adjective moeilijk/schwierig, with the standard comparative suffix -er. Schwierigere thus marks the higher degree of difficulty in attributive constructions and is a standard element of German comparative grammar.