coupled
adj.adj. connected to something else or happening at the same time. You use this to show how two things work together to produce a result.
adj. linked or combined with something else, often to produce a synergistic effect. Frequently functions as a past-participial adjective in a predicative position.
The high price, coupled with poor service, made us leave.
The heavy rain, coupled with strong winds, caused significant damage to the coastal properties.
The company's rapid expansion, coupled with a lack of oversight, eventually led to the financial crisis that forced a complete restructuring of the board.
Commonly used in the structure 'X, coupled with Y, [verb]'. When used this way, the verb usually agrees with X (the singular subject) rather than the combined pair.
The rain coupled with the wind were heavy.The rain coupled with the wind was heavy.The phrase 'coupled with' acts as a prepositional addition, not a coordinating conjunction like 'and', so the verb remains singular if the first noun is singular.