schwierigerer

Schwierigerer is a nonstandard, informal form of the German adjective schwierig. It does not belong to the standard grammar and is not listed as an accepted comparative form in major dictionaries. The form is typically described as a playful or ironic example of “Doppelsteigerung” (double gradation), created by doubling the usual comparative ending -er to intensify the sense of difficulty.

In standard German the comparative of schwierig is schwieriger, and the typical intensifiers are viel schwieriger or noch schwieriger, with am schwierigsten as the superlative. Schwierigerer occurs mainly in casual speech, social media, memes, or humorous writing, where speakers seek a stronger or comic effect than the ordinary comparative provides. It is generally considered inappropriate for formal writing or prescriptive usage.

Usage notes for learners: avoid schwerpunkt-like constructions in formal contexts. If you want to convey a higher degree of difficulty in standard German, use "viel schwieriger" or "noch schwieriger" or structure a comparison with appropriate adverbs. If you encounter "schwierigerer" in informal text, it is usually intended as humor or emphasis rather than as a grammatical rule.

Linguistically, schwierigerer is sometimes cited as an example of nonstandard word formation or hypercorrection in everyday language. It illustrates how speakers experiment with degree-modifiers, even if such forms are not recognized as standard.