endanger lives

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "endanger lives" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where actions or situations pose a risk to people's safety or well-being. Example: "The reckless driving of the motorist could endanger lives on the busy highway."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Why endanger lives for some pretty pictures?

The New Yorker

Information, even if it is correct, should not endanger lives".

The Guardian

Were he to fall, Robert could endanger lives other than his own.

The New Yorker

Soriot says a merger could endanger lives by delaying the development of important drugs.

The Guardian - Business

"Most revolved around what we knew and whether reporting it would endanger lives".

The New York Times

Security experts have criticised Sea Shepherd's tactics at sea, saying they endanger lives.

The Guardian

Human rights groups repeatedly warned that ending the mission would endanger lives.

The Guardian

A bad strategy allows the irresponsible and the reckless to disrupt and endanger lives.

The Guardian

Newspapers frequently sit on stories that could endanger lives, sometimes at government request, sometimes on their own responsibility.

The New York Times

Yet their publication has done significant damage to the courageous work of America's diplomats and may endanger lives.

The New York Times

Dr. Giuliano said doctors and patients were reluctant to participate because they feared forgoing node dissection would endanger lives.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "endanger lives", ensure the context clearly identifies the specific actions or situations that create the risk. Be specific about who or what is being put at risk to maximize clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the potential harm when using "endanger lives". Ensure that the situation genuinely poses a significant threat to life, as overuse can dilute the phrase's impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "endanger lives" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It typically acts as the predicate of a clause, describing an action that poses a threat to human existence. Ludwig examples confirm this usage, showing it in diverse sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "endanger lives" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression that serves to highlight situations where human lives are at risk. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is to warn or inform, frequently appearing in news and media contexts with a neutral register. Alternatives such as "put lives at risk" and "threaten lives" can be used to modulate the tone, but "endanger lives" remains a direct and impactful way to convey potential harm. The examples provided across diverse sources emphasize its broad applicability in describing threats to human safety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put lives at risk

Focuses on the act of placing lives in a situation where harm is possible.

threaten lives

Highlights the potential for harm or danger to lives.

jeopardize lives

Emphasizes the risk of loss or damage to lives.

imperil lives

Stresses the serious and immediate danger to lives.

risk human lives

Specifically highlights that human lives are exposed to hazard.

put people in danger

Broadly indicates that people are exposed to a potentially dangerous situation.

compromise safety

Emphasizes the reduction of protection and security.

hazard lives

Similar to endanger, but can imply a more accidental or unforeseen risk.

place in peril

Highlights a state of great danger or risk.

expose to danger

Indicates the act of revealing or subjecting someone to potential harm.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "endanger lives" to sound less dramatic?

You can use alternatives such as "put lives at risk", "threaten lives", or "jeopardize lives" depending on the level of risk and the context.

Is it correct to say "endanger life" instead of "endanger lives"?

While "endanger life" can be grammatically correct in certain contexts, "endanger lives" is generally used when referring to a situation that affects multiple people or an unspecified number of people. "Endanger life" is more appropriate when referring to a specific individual.

What is the difference between "endanger" and "jeopardize"?

"Endanger" implies creating a situation where harm is possible, while "jeopardize" suggests that something is at risk of being lost or damaged. Both can be used with "lives", but "jeopardize lives" emphasizes the potential for loss of life more strongly.

Can "endanger lives" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "endanger lives" is appropriate for formal writing. It is frequently used in news reports, official statements, and academic papers to describe serious risks to human life.