substantial threats

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial threats" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe significant or serious dangers or risks in various contexts, such as security, environmental issues, or personal safety. Example: "The report highlighted the substantial threats posed by climate change to coastal communities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

For years, intelligence officials – in particular the electronic surveillance centre GCHQ – have warned that Chinese hacking attacks are one of the most substantial threats to Britain's cybersecurity.

The Guardian

"Several companies attached to us have received substantial threats," said Ahmet Taskan, vice-chairman of Hogiaf, a network for Amsterdam's Turkish diaspora business community.

The Guardian

"Assessment processes conducted to date have not accurately reflected the national significance of the population or the substantial threats now posed to it," it said.

The Guardian

While they are still substantial threats, broader availability of medication and vaccines along with higher living standards has caused such communicable diseases to drop dramatically to below 9 million deaths each year.

The Guardian

Mr. Rhodes, a banker who worked on the Brady Plan to tackle the 1980s debt crisis, said Europe's continuing difficulties posed "substantial threats to both the global economic outlook and the stability of financial markets".

The New York Times

The spectrometer is a limited-availability asset, and is only deployed for substantial threats.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

If he rushes for 100 yards, the passing game is a more substantial threat.

The New York Times - Sports

Few in the Tory party now believe that Fox himself represents a substantial threat to Cameron on the backbenches.

The Guardian

Abortion in Ireland is permitted where there is a real and substantial threat to the life of the mother.

The Guardian - Opinion

The guidelines require investigators to provide notice unless it would "pose a substantial threat to the integrity of the investigation".

The New York Times

The cult of hatred the right wing has created with regard to Hillary Rodham Clinton is in direct proportion to the substantial threat she poses at the ballot box.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing cybersecurity, specify the nature of the "substantial threats", such as phishing attacks or ransomware, to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial threats" for minor inconveniences. Reserve it for situations involving significant risk or harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial threats" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "substantial" modifies the noun "threats". Ludwig AI confirms its use in various contexts to describe significant dangers or risks.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "substantial threats" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote significant dangers or risks. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it is prevalent in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating its role in serious discussions. To improve your writing, specify the threats to provide context and avoid using the phrase for minor issues. Alternatives include "significant risks" and "considerable dangers", offering varied ways to convey similar meanings. The phrase is suitable for formal and neutral registers, adding weight to discussions of potential harm.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant risks

Replaces "threats" with "risks", emphasizing the potential for negative outcomes.

considerable dangers

Substitutes "substantial" with "considerable" and "threats" with "dangers", indicating significant hazards.

severe risks

Highlights the severity of potential negative outcomes.

important dangers

Replaces "substantial" with "important", emphasizing the significance of the dangers.

major menaces

Uses "major" instead of "substantial" and "menaces" in place of "threats", suggesting serious threats.

serious hazards

Replaces "substantial" with "serious" and "threats" with "hazards", highlighting grave risks.

notable hazards

Highlights hazards that are easily observed and worthy of attention.

significant vulnerabilities

Focuses on weaknesses that could be exploited, presenting them as significant concerns.

critical challenges

Emphasizes the difficulty and importance of the problems, framing them as threats.

grave perils

Uses more formal language to denote serious and immediate dangers.

FAQs

How can I use "substantial threats" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial threats" to describe significant dangers or risks, such as "Climate change poses "substantial threats" to coastal communities."

What are some alternatives to "substantial threats"?

Alternatives include "significant risks", "considerable dangers", or "serious hazards", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "substantial threats" in formal writing?

Yes, "substantial threats" is suitable for formal writing, especially in reports, analyses, and academic papers where significant risks need to be highlighted.

What's the difference between "substantial threats" and "potential risks"?

"Substantial threats" implies a higher level of certainty and severity compared to "potential risks", which suggests possible but not necessarily significant dangers.