a colossal threat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a colossal threat" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant danger or risk that is perceived to be very large or serious. Example: "The rise of cyber warfare poses a colossal threat to national security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Why exactly is Iran regarded as such a colossal threat?

The Guardian - Opinion

Speaking to his country's parliament, the Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko raised the prospect of "invasion" by Vladimir Putin and warned of a "colossal threat" posed by the escalation of violence.

Independent

Referring to the flare-up of violence in which rebels reportedly tried to seize the government-held town of Maryinka, Poroshenko said: "There is a colossal threat of a renewal of large-scale military operations".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Whether we grapple with the daunting task of managing a pandemic threat or addressing a colossal humanitarian crisis such as we face in Haiti we can only take comfort in shared solutions.

Huffington Post

What this suggests is that, by enshrining the sequester into law, the 2011 Budget Control Act — enacted under the threat of default — was a miscalculation, perhaps even a colossal one, by the Obama administration.

The Washington Post

What a colossal failure!

Independent

That is a colossal achievement.

The Economist

Safety is a colossal issue.

The New York Times

A colossal and inspirational figure.

Independent

A colossal wicket!

The Guardian - Sport

This was a colossal understatement.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a colossal threat", ensure the context supports the use of such a strong term. Reserve it for situations genuinely posing a large-scale danger.

Common error

Avoid using "colossal" in casual conversations or writing where a less dramatic term would suffice. Overuse can diminish its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a colossal threat" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object within a sentence. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it typically describes something that poses a significant danger. The phrase underscores the magnitude of the perceived risk.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a colossal threat" is a noun phrase used to describe a danger or risk of immense size and severity. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is most commonly found in news media and used to emphasize the significant potential harm associated with a particular issue. While grammatically sound, its impactful nature means it should be used thoughtfully to describe situations of genuine significant risk. Related phrases include "an enormous danger" or "a significant risk". Remember to reserve its impactful meaning to the right situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an enormous danger

Replaces "colossal" with "enormous" to indicate a large size or scale of danger.

an immense danger

Replaces "colossal" with "immense" to convey the vastness of the danger.

a gigantic threat

Uses "gigantic" to emphasize the immense size and impact of the threat.

a tremendous danger

Replaces "colossal" with "tremendous", maintaining the emphasis on the magnitude of the danger.

a significant risk

Substitutes "colossal threat" with "significant risk", focusing on the importance and possibility of harm.

a major hazard

Changes "colossal threat" to "major hazard", highlighting a source of potential danger.

a grave peril

Replaces with "grave peril" denoting a serious and immediate danger.

a substantial menace

Uses "substantial menace" instead, suggesting a considerable threat or nuisance.

a looming crisis

Describes the threat as a "looming crisis", emphasizing its imminent and potentially disastrous nature.

a serious danger

Expresses the idea with a more common and straightforward term.

FAQs

What does "a colossal threat" mean?

The phrase "a colossal threat" describes a danger or risk of immense size and significance. It suggests that the threat is not only large but also poses serious potential consequences.

How can I use "a colossal threat" in a sentence?

You might use "a colossal threat" to describe something like climate change, e.g., "Climate change represents "a colossal threat" to global stability".

What are some alternatives to saying "a colossal threat"?

Alternatives include "an enormous danger", "a significant risk", or "a major hazard", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a colossal threat"?

Use "a colossal threat" when you want to emphasize the exceptionally large scale and severity of a danger. It's best suited for formal writing and discussions where precision and impact are important.