Meaning & use
compounded
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“compounded” is a form of “compound”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Made a problem or difficulty worse by adding further factors or complications.
Grammar: Usually passive: the problem was compounded by delays. The active form is 'compound something'.
Patterns
- compound something
- be compounded by something
- compound the problem
The flooding was compounded by poor drainage in the area.
His mistake compounded the difficulties we already faced.
The company's losses were compounded by rising costs.
verbtransitivefinance
Calculated interest on both the original amount and the interest already earned, so that growth accelerates over time.
Grammar: Often passive or adjectival: interest is compounded monthly; compounded interest.
Patterns
- compound interest
- compounded annually
- compounded monthly
The savings account pays interest compounded monthly.
With compounded interest, your money grows faster each year.
The loan charges 5% compounded annually.
Word forms
| third person singular | compounds |
|---|---|
| past tense | compounded |
| past participle | compounded |
| -ing form | compounding |
Common combinations
- compound the problem
- Cutting staff would only compound the problem.
- be compounded by
- The delay was compounded by bad weather.
- compounded interest
- Compounded interest can significantly increase your debt.
- compounded annually
- The investment grows at 4% compounded annually.
Synonyms and how they differ
- worsen
- Worsen means to become or make worse; compound emphasizes adding a new factor that makes an existing problem worse.
- aggravate
- Aggravate is close but can also mean to annoy; compound is more formal and less emotional.
- intensify
- Intensify means to become stronger; compound focuses on adding complications to a problem.
Opposites
Word family
- compound noun
- A thing made of two or more parts, or an enclosed area with buildings.
- compounding noun
- The process of calculating compound interest.
Commonly confused: compounded or compounded?
compounded vs compounded
Not to be confused with 'compounded' meaning mixed or combined into one, as in 'a compounded medicine'.
Practice
The city's traffic problems were ______ by the new road closures.
Choose one answer.
The passive structure 'were compounded by' is correct here. 'Compounding' would need a different structure (e.g. 'were compounding'), and 'compound' or 'compounds' do not fit the past passive.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “compounded”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.