Have you ever wondered whether you should say risk or danger, or what makes a threat different from a menace? These words all relate to harm or trouble, but they’re not exactly the same—and choosing the right one can really sharpen your English. I

In this post, you’ll find clear and simple definitions, each one explained with examples where only one word fits. And to make things even more fun, we’ve turned it into a mini game inspired by Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Can you pick the right word under pressure?

Here we go!

Danger

Definition: A general term referring to the possibility of harm, injury, or negative consequences. It is often immediate or imminent.

Example: Driving at high speed through a foggy road presents a danger to all passengers.

Peril

Definition: A more intensified or extreme form of danger, often involving a high likelihood of serious harm or death. Note: “Peril” is more literary or formal in tone than “danger.”

Example: Mountaineers caught in an avalanche are in peril—their lives are at significant risk.

Threat

Definition: The possibility or expression of future harm, often intentional or directed. A threat may not be immediate but implies a potential for conflict, damage, or danger.

Example: A hostile email from a rival company can be perceived as a threat to your business operations.

Hazard

Definition: A source or condition that can cause harm or damage if not managed. Hazards are often discussed in health and safety contexts. Difference from danger: A hazard is the source, while danger is the condition or situation that may result.

Example: Chemical spills in a laboratory are a serious hazard that must be addressed immediately

Menace

Definition: A person or thing that is persistently troublesome, harmful, or threatening. The word carries a strong connotation of nuisance or long-term disturbance. Stylistic note: “Menace” can describe both people and abstract concepts and often implies social or moral concern.

Example: The gang operating in the neighbourhood has become a real menace to the community.

Risk

Definition: The probability or likelihood that harm will occur. It is often measured or calculated, especially in fields like finance, engineering, or healthcare.Difference from danger: Risk is about possibility, while danger is about the actual presence of harm.

Example: Investing in a startup involves risk, as you may lose your capital if the company fails.

Let’s play!

Answers explained

1. Chemical __________ that could cause severe respiratory issues.

✅ Correct: hazard

• ❌ Danger – too general, lacks the focus on the source.

• ❌ Risk – not about probability, but about an object/source.

• ❌ Threat, peril, menace – these imply intent, intensity, or agency, which a chemical lacks.
  → Only “hazard” fits: it’s used technically to describe potential harm from substances.

2. His life was under serious __________.

✅ Correct: threat

• ❌ Danger – doesn’t convey intentionality (implied here).

• ❌ Risk – focuses on probability, not active danger from others.

• ❌ Peril – too dramatic/literary here, and not idiomatic with “under”.

• ❌ Hazard, menace – not used in this collocation.
  → “Under threat” is a set phrase and contextually appropriate.

3. The child was in immediate __________ on the train tracks.

✅ Correct: danger

• ❌ Peril – close, but not idiomatic with “immediate” for this age group.

• ❌ Hazard – refers to the source of danger, not the situation.

• ❌ Threat, menace, risk – not idiomatic or accurate here.
  → “In immediate danger” is a standard and idiomatic expression.

4. Climbers were in grave __________ in the storm.

✅ Correct: peril

• ❌ Danger – weaker in tone than “grave peril.”

• ❌ Risk – doesn’t convey immediacy and severity.

• ❌ Hazard, menace, threat – incorrect register or meaning.
  → “In grave peril” is formal, intense, and collocationally precise.

5. Financial __________ to the company.

✅ Correct: risk

• ❌ Danger – rarely used with financial terms.

• ❌ Peril – literary and awkward in business contexts.

• ❌ Hazard, menace, threat – do not fit financial collocations.
  → “Financial risk” is a fixed collocation in business discourse.

6. The gang had become a __________ to the neighbourhood.

✅ Correct: menace

• ❌ Threat – possible, but “menace” better fits long-term disturbance.

• ❌ Hazard, peril, risk – not used for people/social behaviour.

• ❌ Danger – less precise for ongoing nuisance.
  → “Menace” strongly implies persistently harmful behaviour.