coarsen

American  

[kawr-suhn, kohr-] / ˈkɔr sən, ˈkoʊr- /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become coarse.

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coarsen British  

/ ˈkɔːsən /

verb

1. to make or become coarse

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Etymology

Origin of coarsen

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

Example Sentences

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."

From Salon

In these landscapes, naturalism and abstraction often battle to a pulsating draw by means of a magnified, or coarsened pointillism that recalls Seurat in its mosaic-like array of dots, dashes and commas.

From New York Times

In such a case, the suppression of coarsening would be beneficial.

From Science Daily

The threats are not simply an issue of coarsening of the national discourse.

From Seattle Times

For Miller, two elements warrant particularly close study: the size and quantity of logs on the beach and the coarsening of its sand and gravel, both of which provide vital environmental clues.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• augment
• broaden
• build up
• swell