a dangerous weapon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dangerous weapon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an object or tool that has the potential to cause harm or injury. Example: "The police confiscated a dangerous weapon from the suspect during the arrest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's a dangerous weapon".

The New Yorker

You never know what makes for a dangerous weapon.

The New Yorker

The tongue, according to late medieval moralists, was a dangerous weapon that tempted people to sin.

University of Pennsylvania

He pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

The New York Times

Combined with zero-day-exploits, they become a dangerous weapon that is often used by advanced persistent threats.

Journal of Information Security and Applications

He faces three counts: assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and threat to commit a crime.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

But it was a dangerous weapon because it had, in truth, been a joint offence.

The Guardian

"That is a dangerous weapon, because they got their votes but have also awakened these people".

The Guardian

Ms. Greer was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

The New York Times

Mr. Minton was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

The New York Times

Police arrested Mariana Silver, 20, and charged her with assault with a dangerous weapon.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal matters, be precise in defining what constitutes "a dangerous weapon" as legal definitions can vary.

Common error

Avoid using "a dangerous weapon" loosely. Specify the type of weapon or its characteristics to provide clarity and avoid misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dangerous weapon" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "dangerous" modifies the noun "weapon". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use in describing objects capable of causing harm.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a dangerous weapon" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to describe an object or tool that can cause harm. Ludwig AI confirms this. It is used across a variety of contexts, from legal and news reporting to academic discussions and general descriptions. While generally neutral in tone, it is crucial to be precise when defining what constitutes "a dangerous weapon", especially in formal settings. Alternatives like "a lethal instrument" or "a hazardous tool" can be used depending on the specific nuance required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a hazardous tool

Replaces "weapon" with "tool" and "dangerous" with "hazardous", focusing on the object's potential for causing harm due to its nature or design.

a lethal instrument

Substitutes "dangerous" with "lethal" and "weapon" with "instrument", emphasizing the potential for causing death.

a harmful device

Replaces "dangerous" with "harmful" and "weapon" with "device", broadening the scope to any mechanism that can cause damage.

a menacing implement

Replaces "dangerous" with "menacing" and "weapon" with "implement", focusing on the threatening nature of the object.

a threatening tool

Swaps "dangerous" with "threatening", highlighting the potential to instill fear or intimidation.

a risky tool

Substitutes "dangerous" with "risky" and "weapon" with "tool", emphasizing the potential for causing harm due to its use.

a perilous device

Replaces "dangerous" with "perilous" and "weapon" with "device", highlighting the high risk of danger associated with the object.

a unsafe object

Substitutes "dangerous" with "unsafe" and "weapon" with "object", emphasizing the lack of safety associated with the object.

a risky instrument

Swaps "dangerous" with "risky" and "weapon" with "instrument", underscoring the uncertainty and potential negative outcomes of its use.

a damaging article

Replaces "dangerous" with "damaging" and "weapon" with "article", focusing on the object's potential to cause damage or injury.

FAQs

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

You can use "a dangerous weapon" to describe any object or tool used to inflict harm. For example: "The suspect was charged with assault using "a dangerous weapon"."

What are some alternatives to "a dangerous weapon"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "a lethal instrument", "a hazardous tool", or "a harmful device".

In legal terms, what defines "a dangerous weapon"?

The definition of "a dangerous weapon" varies by jurisdiction, but it generally includes any instrument capable of causing serious bodily harm or death. This can range from firearms and knives to objects used as weapons, such as bats or even vehicles.

Is there a difference between "a deadly weapon" and "a dangerous weapon"?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, "a deadly weapon" typically refers to items designed specifically to kill (like firearms), whereas "a dangerous weapon" can include items not inherently designed for harm but used in a manner that could cause serious injury.