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LingakuLingakuともすれば + [sentence]
Standalone adverb; typically placed at the beginning of a clause or sentence. Often pairs with ～がちだ／～やすい／～傾向がある／～しかねない to reinforce the sense of tendency.
ともすれば is a formal adverbial expression meaning "apt to," "tend to," "liable to," or "prone to." It indicates that something has a natural tendency to move in a certain direction – often an undesirable one – if left unchecked. It implies that the outcome is not guaranteed but is a likely possibility given the circumstances.
ともすれば is used in written language, essays, editorials, and formal speech. It often appears with expressions that reinforce the idea of tendency, such as 〜～がちだ, 〜～やすい, or 〜～けいこう傾向がある.
In most cases, ともすれば points to a negative or problematic tendency – something that people should be aware of or guard against. It carries a cautionary tone.