explicit threat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "explicit threat" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a clear and direct statement that indicates an intention to cause harm or danger to someone. Example: "The police took the explicit threat seriously and increased security measures around the area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The explicit threat of a veto hung in the air.

The Economist

Anxiety was higher under implicit vs. explicit threat.

Accident Analysis & Prevention

But Wednesday's video included the most explicit threat to attack the Olympic Games so far.

The New York Times

No one made an explicit threat of eviction, but Silva suspected it lurked behind the offer.

The Guardian

But she stopped short of repeating Salmond's explicit threat to renege on debt repayments.

The Guardian

But North Korea's explicit threat was to pre-emptively "shell" Washington, D.C. Missile defense provides the only real protection against that.

The New York Times

Donald Fehr, the union's executive director, negotiated Saturday and Sunday while wielding the explicit threat of dissolving the union and throwing the lockout into court on antitrust grounds.

The New York Times - Sports

What some of them want is independence; all of them use this as a more or less explicit threat to gain more public money and powers.

The Economist

Seeking similarly to blame France, he added: "We regret that in the face of an explicit threat to veto, the vote-counting became a secondary consideration".

Independent

If nothing else, argue the Poles, an explicit threat would strengthen Europe's negotiating hand.Telephone diplomacyThe doves, led by Germany, take the opposite view.

The Economist

But Mr León adds that there was "an explicit threat" in the president's message to the electorate: "without Chávez there will be war".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "explicit threat" when you want to emphasize the clarity and lack of ambiguity in a threatening statement or action.

Common error

Avoid using "explicit threat" when the threat is implied or suggested rather than directly stated. An explicit threat is direct and clear, while an implicit threat is indirect and suggestive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "explicit threat" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "explicit" modifies the noun "threat", indicating a clear, direct, and unambiguous declaration of harm or negative consequence. This phrase is used to describe the nature of the threat itself. According to Ludwig AI, its use is correct and frequent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "explicit threat" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe a direct and unambiguous declaration of potential harm. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, its use is correct. It is most frequently encountered in news and media contexts, but also appears in scientific and formal communications. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly demonstrates the direct nature of the threat to prevent misinterpretation. Be mindful of distinguishing it from an implicit threat, where the threatening message is only implied. Alternatives like "direct menace", "clear warning", and "unequivocal menace" offer nuanced options for expressing similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

direct menace

Replaces "threat" with "menace", emphasizing the potential for harm or danger.

clear warning

Substitutes "threat" with "warning", focusing on the communication of potential danger.

unequivocal menace

Synonymous replacement for "explicit threat" providing an alternative phrasing.

overt intimidation

Replaces "threat" with "intimidation", highlighting the act of causing fear.

unambiguous warning

Focuses on the clarity of the warning rather than the threat itself.

outright menace

Uses "outright" to emphasize the directness and openness of the menace.

plain threat

Uses "plain" to indicate the threat is easily understood and straightforward.

express threat

Similar in meaning, but "express" emphasizes the verbalization or articulation of the threat.

stated threat

Focuses on the act of the threat being formally or clearly communicated.

specific threat

Highlights the detailed nature of the threat, indicating it is not vague or general.

FAQs

What does "explicit threat" mean?

An "explicit threat" is a direct and unambiguous statement of intent to cause harm or damage. It leaves no room for doubt about the intention to inflict harm.

How is an "explicit threat" different from an implicit one?

An "explicit threat" is stated clearly and directly, whereas an implicit threat is suggested or implied without being openly expressed. The key difference is the level of directness in conveying the threatening message.

Can you provide alternatives for "explicit threat"?

Alternatives include "direct menace", "clear warning", or "unequivocal menace", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How to use "explicit threat" in a sentence?

Example: "The email contained an "explicit threat" against the CEO's family, prompting an immediate police investigation."