Guide 108 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “risk”
Five words for risk at different temperatures.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Risk" is the technical term — but writers often need temperature: "hazard" is identified and dangerous; "threat" is directed and hostile; "exposure" is a quantified position; "vulnerability" is a weakness; "liability" is legal/financial fallout.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Hazard neutral
identified, dangerous condition
A hazard in the deployment pipeline.
- 02Threat neutral
directed, hostile risk
A credible threat to uptime.
- 03Exposure formal
quantified risk position
Our exposure sits at 2.3m.
- 04Vulnerability neutral
an exploitable weakness
A vulnerability in the auth layer.
- 05Liability formal
legal or financial consequence
A potential liability if this ships.