verschärfen

Verschärfen is a German verb meaning to make something more strict, severe, or intense. It is used when rules, measures, penalties, or conditions are made stricter, or when a situation becomes more intense. The verb is formed with the base Schärfen (sharpness) and the prefix ver-, which conveys intensification or strengthening.

Verschärfen is primarily transitive: man verschärft etwas, for example Gesetze, Strafen, Kontrollen oder Auflagen. In contrast, it can also be used reflexively or in an intransitive construction: sich verschärfen, meaning to become more severe or acute, as in Die Lage verschärft sich or Der Konflikt verschärft sich. In the perfect tense, both hat verschärft (transitive use) and hat sich verschärft (intransitive use) can occur depending on meaning.

Noun form and related terms: die Verschärfung refers to the act or result of making something stricter, as in die Verschärfung der Einreisebestimmungen. Related concepts include Intensivierung or Verschärfungen in policy discussions.

Contexts: In law and policy, verschärfen is common when authorities tighten sanctions, penalties, or border controls. In public discourse, it describes a shift to harsher rhetoric or an intensified debate. In safety and industry, Sicherheitsvorschriften oder Kontrollen können verschärft werden. In international relations, measures or sanctions are frequently verschärft to respond to developments.

Examples:

- Die Regierung verschärft die Einreisebestimmungen.

- Die Strafen wurden verschärft.

- Die Lage verschärft sich.