threat

1 of 2

noun

ˈthret 

1

: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage

2

: one that threatens

3

: an indication of something impending

the sky held a threat of rain

threat

2 of 2

verb

threated; threating; threats

archaic

: threaten

Synonyms

Noun

• danger
• hazard
• imminence
• menace
• peril
• pitfall
• risk
• trouble

Examples of threat in a Sentence

Noun

He was willing to use violence and threats to get what he wanted.

She ignored their threats and continued to do what she felt was right.

a country under threat of civil war

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With no British troops on hand, Dunmore saw this threat as his only option to avert violence. —Andrew Lawler, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025

Perrin strategizes against White Cloak threats to Two Rivers. —Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025

The artists took to social media to expose his recent actions, which allegedly include harassment and murder-suicide threats. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 2 Apr. 2025

But that bill has hit snags in the state legislature, primarily in the form of resistance from four-year institutions who view it as an encroachment on their territory and a threat to their efforts to maintain enrollment numbers in a highly competitive environment. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English thret coercion, threat, from Old English thrēat coercion; akin to Middle High German drōz annoyance, Latin trudere to push, thrust

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing threat

• bomb threat
• counter-threat
• empty threat
• idle threat
• triple threat
• under threat

Rhymes for threat

• bet
• brett
• debt
• et
• fret
• get
• jet
• let
• lett
• met
• net
• nett

Kids Definition

threat

noun

ˈthret

1

: an expression of an intent to do harm

stop making threats

2

: something that threatens

the volcano was a threat to the village

3

: an indication of something impending

the sky held a threat of rain

Legal Definition

threat

noun

: an expression of an intention to injure another : menace sense 1

criminal laws against making terroristic threats