This is the 3153rd most frequent Dutch word.
ernstiger
More serious.
Here, 'ernstiger' is used as a comparative adjective to describe the increasing severity of the situation.
De situatie wordt steeds ernstiger.
The situation is becoming more serious.
In this sentence, 'ernstiger' compares the current perception of the injury's seriousness to the prior assumption.
Zijn blessure bleek ernstiger dan we dachten.
His injury turned out to be more serious than we thought.
'Ernstiger' here expresses a hypothetical greater level of severity regarding potential consequences.