threaten

verb

threat·​en ˈthre-tᵊn 

threatened; threatening ˈthret-niŋ 

ˈthre-tᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to utter threats against

2

a

: to give signs or warning of : portend

the clouds threatened rain

b

: to hang over dangerously : menace

famine threatens the city

3

: to announce as intended or possible

the workers threatened a strike

4

: to cause to feel insecure or anxious

felt threatened by his brother's success

intransitive verb

1

: to utter threats

2

: to portend evil

threatener

ˈthret-nər 

ˈthre-tᵊn-ər

noun

Synonyms

• hang (over)
• hover (over)
• impend (over)
• menace
• overhang

Examples of threaten in a Sentence

The mugger threatened him with a gun.

She threatened to quit if they didn't give her a raise, but no one believed her.

Civil war has been threatening the country for years.

a marriage threatened by financial problems

Overfishing threatens the survival of certain fish species.

The latest news threatens trouble for the economy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet, this week’s homestand offered a conversely troubling reality check, serving as a reminder of the many potholes still threatening to throw the Dodgers’ season off course. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024

The Dutch threatened to cut Britain off from trees from the Baltic area (the Rhine empties through Holland), but the British realized that New England contained vast, old growth forests of White Pine. —Eugene Linden, TIME, 21 Apr. 2024

If the Kremlin’s forces can seize the important high ground in the area, an agglomeration of the largest cities in the Donbas region still under Ukrainian control would be threatened. —Marc Santora, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2024

When Lisa — a member of the compound who previously befriended Natalie — notices what’s going on and threatens to kill Natalie, Misty attempts to save her friend, but Natalie pushes Lisa out of the way to save her and is accidentally stabbed by Misty with a lethal injection. —Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024

Six Southern governors, including Tennessee’s Bill Lee, warned the workers in a joint statement this week that joining the UAW could cost them their jobs and threaten the region’s economic progress. —Kristin M. Hall, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2024

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is threatening legal action against Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas after the mayor made comments suggesting the city would benefit from immigrants seeking asylum in cities such as New York coming to work in Kansas City. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2024

Police didn’t release the student’s age or say if the student threatened anyone. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 19 Apr. 2024

The Russian Orthodox Church has used bribery and blackmail, threatening to undermine churches that do not adopt its policies and requiring newly converted (and well-paid) clerics to sign documents renouncing all ties with Bartholomew’s Church. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

threaten

verb

threat·​en ˈthret-ᵊn 

threatened; threatening ˈthret-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

1

: to utter threats : make threats against

threaten trespassers with arrest

2

: to give signs or warning of

clouds threatening rain

3

: to be an imminent danger to : menace

hunger threatens the town

4

: to announce as intended or possible

the workers threatened a strike

threatened to buy a car

5

: to cause to feel insecure or anxious

felt threatened by his friend's success

threateningly

ˈthret-niŋ-lē 

-ᵊn-iŋ-

adverb