threat of

USAGE SUMMARY

'threat of' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express the possibility of something bad or unpleasant happening. Example sentence: The company is facing the threat of bankruptcy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The threat of Obamacare?

The New York Times

There's no threat of protest.

The New Yorker

The threat of gridlock faded.

The New York Times

The threat of assassination remained.

The Economist

The aerial threat, of course.

Independent

But is the threat of closure credible?

The New Yorker

Now the threat of chaos looms.

The New Yorker

"The threat of force is real".

The New York Times

It's the threat of another U.S. Steel.

The New York Times - Magazine

And there remained the threat of pain.

The New Yorker

But the threat of oblivion was constant.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "threat of" when you want to emphasize the possibility of something negative, such as "the threat of job losses".

Common error

While "threat of" is common, overuse in formal writing can make your tone seem alarmist. Consider using synonyms like "risk of" or "possibility of" for a more balanced perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "threat of" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun. It indicates the potential for something negative to occur. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts like "threat of climate change", "threat of force", and "threat of terrorism".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "threat of" is a common prepositional phrase used to express the potential for something negative to occur. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media contexts. Related phrases include "risk of", "danger of", and "possibility of", which can be used as alternatives depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. While "threat of" is generally appropriate, avoiding overuse, especially in formal writing, is recommended to maintain a balanced tone. This guide provides best practices, common errors to avoid, and answers frequently asked questions to ensure effective usage of "threat of" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

risk of

Focuses on the probability of a negative outcome.

danger of

Emphasizes the potential for harm or negative consequences.

possibility of

Highlights the chance of something adverse occurring.

likelihood of

Indicates the probability of a negative event.

prospect of

Suggests a future possibility, often negative.

menace of

Emphasizes a serious threat or source of harm.

fear of

Highlights the emotion associated with an anticipated negative event.

hazard of

Points to a potential source of danger.

chance of

Indicates the potential for something undesirable.

peril of

Suggests a serious and immediate danger.

FAQs

How to use "threat of" in a sentence?

The phrase "threat of" is used to indicate the possibility or likelihood of something undesirable occurring. For example, "The company faces the "threat of" bankruptcy if sales do not improve".

What can I say instead of "threat of"?

You can use alternatives like "risk of", "danger of", or "possibility of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "threat for" instead of "threat of"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "threat" in this context is "of". "Threat for" is not grammatically correct. Always use ""threat of"".

What's the difference between "threat of" and "risk of"?

While both indicate potential negative outcomes, "threat of" often implies a more imminent or deliberate danger, while "risk of" can refer to a broader range of uncertainties.