gravely dangerous

USAGE SUMMARY

"gravely dangerous" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or object that poses a serious risk of harm to people or property, such as when you say "driving under the influence of alcohol is a gravely dangerous act".

✓ Grammatically correct

TechCrunch

The New York Times - Sports

Huffington Post

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The variety of companies that run these tests range from large to small, and the risks of each test fall on a highly interpretable spectrum from innocuous to gravely dangerous.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Marlon Anderson, his face gravely serious, said: "Baseball field's a dangerous place, Jay.

The New York Times - Sports

Historic, massive, gravely serious.

Huffington Post

Is is sing-song or gravely serious?

WikiHow

The grandeur of the last offer can only be appreciated by anyone who has seen Jane Bown's masterly portrait of the great man, in which he looks like an eagle that has been pulled backwards through a barbed wire fence: magnificent, dangerous, but gravely dishevelled.

The Guardian

We went to North Carolina and Pennsylvania to meet people who've been gravely affected by this dangerous waste product.

Vice

His parents tried to get him back into treatment for bipolar and other brain disorders he suffers, but the young man wasn't cooperative and he wasn't considered dangerous or gravely disabled.

Los Angeles Times

AOT allows courts to order mental health departments to provide treatment to certain people with mental illness who are likely to become dangerous or gravely disabled without treatment and who have a history of violence and refusing treatment.

Huffington Post

"It is a dangerous situation, and we are all gravely concerned".

The New York Times

On the verge of a kill, however, he is distracted, possibly by the magnesium flash of a photographer (images being dangerous weapons, as fairy tales remind us), and gravely gored.

The New Yorker

We heard through various sources that Wayne might be bad news, and a simple search confirmed our fears: Wayne was a dangerous felon, a man with a history of gravely injuring and terrorizing people, including past girlfriends.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gravely dangerous", ensure the context clearly establishes the specific potential harm to emphasize the severity of the danger.

Common error

Avoid using "gravely dangerous" in contexts where the risk is minimal or only slightly elevated. This diminishes the impact of the phrase and can create distrust.

Linguistic Context

Gravely dangerous functions as a compound adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe something posing a severe and immediate threat or risk. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid in written English and useful for describing situations that could cause significant harm.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gravely dangerous" is used to describe situations or objects that pose a significant risk of harm. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English, particularly when emphasizing the severity of a threat. While relatively rare in overall usage, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly establishes the potential harm to reinforce the sense of severe danger. Keep in mind the context and the degree of danger to not overstate the risk.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely perilous

Emphasizes the extreme level of danger.

critically hazardous

Focuses on the critical nature of the hazard involved.

highly precarious

Highlights the instability and uncertainty of the situation.

seriously threatening

Emphasizes the threat posed.

acutely risky

Stresses the sharp and intense nature of the risk.

deeply unsafe

Focuses on the profound lack of safety.

severely jeopardizing

Highlights the severe impact on safety.

utterly treacherous

Emphasizes the deceitful and unreliable nature of the situation.

potentially lethal

Highlights the possibility of death.

imminently hazardous

Focuses on the immediate danger.

FAQs

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

You can use "gravely dangerous" to describe situations, objects, or actions that pose a significant risk of harm. For instance, "Driving under the influence of alcohol is a "gravely dangerous" act."

What phrases are similar to "gravely dangerous"?

Similar phrases include "extremely perilous", "critically hazardous", or "highly precarious", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "gravely dangerous" the same as "very dangerous"?

While both describe a dangerous situation, "gravely dangerous" implies a higher level of severity and potential for serious harm compared to "very dangerous".

Can "gravely dangerous" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "gravely dangerous" is appropriate for formal writing when describing situations that present a severe threat. Its usage in news and media supports its acceptability in formal contexts.