“使更激烈之物”较为直白的英文表达可以是 "something that intensifies or makes things more intense" ,不过这样的表述稍显冗长松散,在不同语境中有更自然精准的译法:
若指加剧冲突、矛盾等抽象事物,可用 "something that exacerbates [the situation/conflict]" 。例如:The new policy is something that exacerbates the tension between the two groups.(这项新政策是使两组人之间关系更紧张的东西 。)
若指让活动、竞争等更具激烈性,可用 "something that ups the ante/makes it more competitive" 。“up the ante”是固定短语,意思是“提高赌注;增加风险或要求;使情况更具挑战性或激烈性” 。例如:The introduction of new rules is something that ups the ante in this competition.(新规则的引入是让这场竞争更激烈的东西 。)