fraught with disaster

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fraught with disaster" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or action that is filled with potential problems or dangers. Example: "The decision to ignore safety protocols was fraught with disaster, leading to numerous accidents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

General Discussions

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It's an attitude that comes not just from love, but also from fear; a history fraught with disaster and hunger gives rise to the feeling that one must always be prepared.

The New York Times - Books

The Group A fixture will take place on 14 June at the Arena da Amazonia, where the construction has also been fraught with disaster and delay.

BBC

This is how gender reveal burnouts came to be a thing and how, subsequently, the act of announcing your unborn fetus' genitalia can become fraught with disaster.

Vice

I think any filmmaker will tell you that getting a movie off the ground at any level is an impossibly daunting task that is inherently fraught with disaster -- as is anything, come to think of it, that requires the collaboration of a myriad of human personalities.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A race called the Tour Feminin was held intermittently from 1984 to 2009, but the event was fraught with disasters including unpaid prize money, poor sponsorship, and even a legal battle over its name.

Independent

Trips can be fraught with potential disaster but almost all enrich children's learning, enliven classroom discussion and should pose no problem with a bit of careful planning.

The Guardian

However fraught with potential disaster that is, I'm looking forward to it a whole lot more than the moribund non-events being readied in the Bond pipeline.

The Guardian - Film

HOUSTON — When President Trump announced in May that he was going to withdraw the United States from the nuclear agreement that the Obama administration and five other countries negotiated with Iran in 2015 and reimpose sanctions on the country, the decision was fraught with potential disaster.

The New York Times

While the decade since Hurricane Katrina has been fraught with natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes, recovery from these disasters has often been delayed by wasteful spending of billions of well-intended charitable dollars.

HuffPost

If that was a baroque scheme, this new plot to cover up Claire's adultery is even more fraught with potential disasters: what if the press discover, as they tend to, the truth about the provenance of the photographs?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

US, British and French recipes for Syria's future seem as fraught with potential for disaster as their plans in 1916 or 2003.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fraught with disaster", ensure the context clearly establishes the potential negative outcomes. For example, "The poorly planned expedition was fraught with disaster from the start."

Common error

Avoid using "fraught with disaster" for minor inconveniences. Reserve it for situations where the potential consequences are genuinely severe and widespread.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fraught with disaster" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe something as being filled with potential dangers or negative consequences. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing situations or actions likely to lead to significant harm.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Books

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fraught with disaster" is a phrase used to describe situations or actions that are filled with potential problems and dangers. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While "fraught with disaster" can be used in various contexts, it is more common in formal settings, like news reports or academic discussions, to highlight significant risks and potential negative outcomes. Alternatives such as "laden with calamity" or "filled with peril" can be used to convey a similar meaning with slightly different emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure the context is appropriate and the potential consequences warrant the strong warning it implies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

laden with calamity

Replaces "disaster" with "calamity", emphasizing the severity of the negative event.

filled with peril

Replaces "fraught with disaster" with a more concise expression emphasizing danger.

beset by catastrophe

Uses a different verb and noun to convey a similar sense of being troubled by a major disaster.

riddled with misfortune

Emphasizes the presence of bad luck or negative events throughout the situation.

teeming with tribulation

Highlights the abundance of difficulties and suffering within the situation.

replete with adversity

Focuses on the fullness of challenging or unfavorable circumstances.

subject to mishap

Indicates a vulnerability or likelihood of accidents or unfortunate events.

vulnerable to tragedy

Highlights the susceptibility to serious and unfortunate events.

endangered by crisis

Emphasizes the threat of a critical and unstable situation.

compromised by failure

Focuses on the potential for collapse or inability to succeed.

FAQs

What does "fraught with disaster" mean?

The phrase "fraught with disaster" means filled with potential problems, dangers, or negative outcomes. It suggests that a situation or action is likely to result in significant harm or failure.

Are there synonyms for "fraught with disaster"?

Yes, alternative phrases include "laden with calamity", "filled with peril", or "beset by catastrophe". These phrases convey a similar sense of potential danger and negative consequences.

How can I use "fraught with disaster" in a sentence?

You can use "fraught with disaster" to describe situations or actions that carry a high risk of failure or negative outcomes. For example, "The company's decision to ignore safety regulations was fraught with disaster."

Is "fraught with disaster" a formal or informal expression?

"Fraught with disaster" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally more common in formal writing and speech due to its slightly elevated vocabulary.