a dangerous extent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dangerous extent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a level or degree of danger that is significant or alarming. Example: "The pollution in the river has reached a dangerous extent, threatening the local wildlife and community health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Students still party to a dangerous extent.

The New York Times

Capitol offence Nobody could accuse this column of having been over-friendly towards the American investment banks which helped inflate the dotcom bubble to such a dangerous extent.

The Guardian - Business

But he is also a critic, and, to a dangerous extent, he is putting forth his disillusion as a judgment on the state of literature.

The New Yorker

A prevailing view by the 2,411 respondents was that "Germany, because of the many foreigners living here, is exposed to foreign influence to a dangerous extent," the report said.

The New York Times

His administration has undertaken not to bring federal enforcement to bear, so long as states give sensible reassurances about preventing dope from passing out of their own borders, falling into the hands of children, or polluting the bloodstreams of drivers to a dangerous extent.

The Guardian - Opinion

These critics - such as Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling - fear economic ties that bind the union together are being loosened to a dangerous extent.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The reason that Rawls takes this to be a live possibility is that "the inequalities sanctioned by the difference principle may be so great as to arouse envy to a socially dangerous extent".[26] The primary way in which Rawls thinks envy could pose such a threat is if it comes to undermine the self-respect of those who are less well off.

SEP

A buckle had indeed broke, but not to a noticeable or dangerous extent during the match.

Wikipedia

"This case presents a stark example of the dangerous extent to which pervasive secrecy in military court proceedings undercuts the appearance of fairness essential to public confidence," the filing said.

The New York Times

The struggle, in a town frequented by Christian pilgrims as the home of Jesus, underscored the dangerous extent to which the new Israeli-Palestinian clashes have swept up Jews and Arabs in Israel proper, where one million Arabs hold citizenship.

The New York Times

Its executives failed to report a dangerous incident and weren't truthful with the government about the extent of a 218-ton oil spill.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger verbs or adjectives to amplify the sense of danger, such as 'spiraled to a dangerous extent' or 'reached a critically dangerous extent'.

Common error

Avoid using "a dangerous extent" when the situation presents only a minor inconvenience. Overusing such strong language can diminish its impact when describing truly serious scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dangerous extent" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate the degree or level to which something is dangerous. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a dangerous extent" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English used to describe a level or degree of danger that is significant or alarming. Ludwig AI shows it's most commonly found in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. When writing, be sure to define what exactly is becoming dangerously large, consider strengthening the phrase with more descriptive language, and avoid overusing the phrase in minor situations. Alternatives include "a perilous degree" or "a hazardous level".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a perilous degree

Replaces "dangerous" with "perilous", suggesting a more immediate and severe risk.

a hazardous level

Substitutes "dangerous" with "hazardous", indicating a potential for harm or damage.

a risky magnitude

Uses "risky magnitude" to emphasize the size or scale of the danger.

a threatening proportion

Employs "threatening proportion" to highlight the potential for negative impact.

a critical point

Replaces "dangerous extent" with "critical point", emphasizing a turning point with potential negative consequences.

a concerning amount

Uses "concerning amount" to suggest worry or unease about the quantity or degree.

an alarming rate

Substitutes "dangerous extent" with "alarming rate", focusing on the speed or pace of the increase in danger.

a worrying scale

Employs "worrying scale" to highlight the extent of the danger causing concern.

a serious level

Replaces dangerous with "serious" thus focusing on the importance/severity

a severe degree

Replaces dangerous with "severe" thus focusing on its intensity

FAQs

How can I use "a dangerous extent" in a sentence?

Use "a dangerous extent" to describe a situation where something has increased to a level that poses a significant risk. For example, "The pollution levels in the city have increased to "a dangerous extent", threatening public health".

What are some alternatives to "a dangerous extent"?

You can use alternatives like "a perilous degree", "a hazardous level", or "a threatening proportion" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "dangerous extent" without the article "a"?

While grammatically acceptable in some contexts, using the article "a" ("a dangerous extent") is generally preferred for clarity and to emphasize the degree or level being described.

What's the difference between "a dangerous extent" and "a critical level"?

"A dangerous extent" describes a situation that has grown to be risky, while "a critical level" suggests a threshold has been reached that demands immediate action. The former implies growth of danger, the latter, an urgent situation.