にもまして

にもまして is used to emphasize that something is more intense, more extreme, or more pronounced than a previous comparison or expected level. It adds a sense of surprise or emphasis, often contrasting two states, events, or qualities. It frequently follows a time word or a context cue (like 昨年, 今年, 難しい課題) and then precedes the main clause to show that the described degree is greater than what was previously expected or than another reference point. Common nuances include: 1) comparison with a prior situation (去年にもまして), 2) emphasis on extreme degree (暑いにもまして), 3) contrast between two situations where the second is notably more intense. Note that this construction tends to attach to a preceding noun or na-adjective phrase rather than a bare verb phrase; when the preceding element is a verb, it is more limited and often feels less natural than using a noun-like phrase.