coarsen

[kawr-suhn, kohr-]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become coarse.

coarsen

/ ˈkɔːsən /

verb

1. to make or become coarse

Word History and Origins

Origin of coarsen¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; coarse + -en ¹

Example Sentences

We want to call attention to the messages it sends to Americans, how it coarsens our civic life, encourages cynicism, and prepares the way for Trump’s distinctive brand of strong man rule.

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The national discourse has coarsened, partisan divisions have sharpened and become more entrenched, and the standards for candidate behaviour have eroded.

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No political figure of the past generation has done more to coarsen the nation’s politics, lower the bar for acceptable discourse and promote political violence than Trump.

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In her recent New York Times article about the "coarsening" of the religious right, Ruth Graham alluded to this, writing about the trend of evangelical leaders using "vulgarities."

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The use of an expletive from a Trump campaign social media account on Monday reflects the coarsening of political discourse in the Trump era.

Read more on New York Times

Related Words

• augment 
• broaden 
• build up 
• swell