severe risk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severe risk" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition that poses a significant threat or danger. Example: "The company faces a severe risk of financial loss if the project fails to meet its deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Moderate or severe risk of problem gambling was significantly associated with several lifetime clinical history variables (Table 4).

British Journal of Psychiatry

Increase alert to "red -- severe risk".

The New York Times

"If not," he said, "this child is at severe risk".

The New York Times - Health

Such measures could risk overloading already struggling councils with families at severe risk of homelessness.

The Guardian

'Prolonged below freezing temperatures could put them at severe risk,' said the spokesman.

The Guardian

If they were, they would have been at severe risk, no matter the tactics.

The New York Times

In some areas one in three children is seriously malnourished and at severe risk of death.

The Guardian - Opinion

Red, the highest level, meant "severe risk of terrorist attacks".

The New York Times

A separate pesticide, chlorpyrifos, is also a severe risk to 97% of America's most threatened flora and fauna.

The Guardian

Sixty-one were at "severe risk," meaning that they had only one or two companies at their frontiers.

The New Yorker

Yes, the mission is more of the same, with the severe risk of exit from the European Union thrown in.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing potential negative outcomes, use "severe risk" to emphasize the gravity and potential consequences. For example: "Ignoring safety protocols presents a "severe risk" of accidents."

Common error

Avoid using "severe risk" when the context involves minor inconveniences or negligible threats. The phrase is best reserved for situations with potentially serious or life-altering consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe risk" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "severe" modifies the noun "risk". Ludwig indicates this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples provided by Ludwig show that this noun phrase typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, indicating a potential danger or hazard.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "severe risk" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed term used to emphasize the high potential for harm or danger. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for formal, scientific, news, and business contexts, signaling a significant threat requiring attention. While alternatives like "grave danger" or "acute threat" exist, "severe risk" provides a balanced and widely understood description of a high-stakes situation. Remember to reserve it for scenarios where the potential consequences are truly serious to avoid diluting its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grave danger

Replaces "risk" with "danger", emphasizing the potential for harm or negative outcomes.

serious hazard

Substitutes "risk" with "hazard", highlighting the presence of a potential source of danger.

acute threat

Uses "threat" instead of "risk", stressing the imminence and intensity of the danger.

critical peril

Employs "peril" to denote a situation of great danger or risk, adding a sense of urgency.

extreme jeopardy

Replaces "risk" with "jeopardy", indicating a state of being exposed to loss or danger.

substantial endangerment

Focuses on the act of endangering and the significant level of threat involved.

high exposure

Highlights the vulnerability and the likelihood of experiencing negative consequences.

major liability

Shifts the focus to potential legal or financial repercussions of the risk.

dire possibility

Emphasizes the negative potential outcome and its severe nature.

substantial probability of loss

Quantifies the risk in terms of the likelihood of experiencing a negative outcome or loss.

FAQs

How can I use "severe risk" in a sentence?

You can use "severe risk" to describe situations with high potential for harm. For instance, "The lack of funding poses a "severe risk" to the project's success" or "Ignoring the warning signs presents a "severe risk" of system failure."

What phrases are similar to "severe risk"?

Alternatives include "grave danger", "serious hazard", or "acute threat", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "severe risk" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "severe risk" is more common in formal and professional contexts. In informal writing, consider using simpler terms like "big danger" or "serious risk".

What distinguishes "severe risk" from "moderate risk"?

"Severe risk" indicates a high probability of significant negative consequences, whereas "moderate risk" implies a lower probability or less serious potential outcomes. The choice depends on the specific context and the level of danger involved.