expressing warning about possible adverse outcomes, often emphasizing future possibility rather than certainty

alert listeners/readers to the existence of a hazard so they can prepare defenses or take precautions

security briefings, environmental impact assessments, political debates on safety issues

academic writing (e.g., risk analysis), professional reports, news articles covering crises

pose a; threat

pose a; threat

serious, grave, imminent, potential, direct, major, credible threats

• serious
• grave
• imminent
• potential
• direct
• major
• credible

• constitute a threat
• represent a danger
• be a hazard

using ‘present’ or ‘make’ instead of ‘pose’, e.g., *The drug presents a risk* (less idiomatic); using passive voice unnecessarily like *It is dangerous*.

present a risk vs. constitute a hazard; offer a challenge vs. present a threat – different nuance about certainty and intent

Learners from languages that use similar verbs for actualized harm may default to ‘put’/‘make’ in English, leading to misuse such as *The virus makes danger*.

• pose a challenge
• constitute a hazard
• represent a danger

Unlike ‘dangerous’ which implies current harm, ‘poses a threat’ signals potential future impact, emphasizing preparedness rather than immediacy.

Conveys objective assessment of risk, often used by authorities or experts to justify cautionary measures.

pose = threat

Avoid using 'pose a threat' when referring to current or already realized harm, as it suggests potential rather than actual danger. Also, ensure the noun phrase that follows 'pose a threat' is specific and clear to the context to avoid ambiguity. For instance, 'pose a threat to national security' is more precise than 'pose a threat to the country.'

be dangerous → pose a risk → pose a grave threat