threaten

as in to endanger
to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on the powerful hurricane continues to threaten the southern coastline

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of threaten Currently, the legislation is threatened by GOP infighting and a Senate parliamentarian ruling against taxation changes to Medicaid. Jordan Blum, Fortune, 27 June 2025 Abruptly unwinding the incentives would threaten a decade-long push to onshore solar manufacturing and challenge China's dominance of the sector, according to industry executives and analysts. Michael Copley, NPR, 27 June 2025 When the prince brings boyfriend Dev to meet his royal family, their aristocratic inertia threatens the young love. Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 27 June 2025 Pachuca never mustered enough quality around the industrious Salomon Rondon to truly threaten Yassine Bounou, even as Al Hilal’s passivity flirted with danger. Liam Twomey, New York Times, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Verb
  • Though not currently endangered, their Arctic homes are warming rapidly due to climate change, which threatens both their hunting grounds and their preferred prey.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • In a brutal fight in which Myung-gi more than once endangers his newborn daughter (sometimes on purpose), Myung-gi ends up falling off the tall platform before the final round officially begins, meaning now either Gi-hun or the baby has to die or they will both be shot by the game workers.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Since seizing power, in 1979, Iran’s theocracy has menaced its more than ninety million citizens and the wider region.
    David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
  • Potentially dangerous animals menaced the survivalists.
    Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 13 June 2025

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“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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