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

In an interview Monday with Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation, Jon Morosi of MLB Network said the biggest threat to sign Hernández might be yet another runner-up in the Soto sweepstakes: The Boston Red Sox. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

The rhetoric grew increasingly violent and the threats more explicit. —Joseph Thorndike, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

That decision involved whether certain categories of people — namely those found to pose a credible threat to others — can be temporarily disarmed. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2024

Such threats, regardless of Trump's inconsistencies, have been taken seriously enough by many top Democrats that Biden is considering issuing blanket, preemptive pardons to protect key members of his outgoing administration. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 9 Dec. 2024

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

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