threaten

verb

threat·​en ˈthre-tᵊn How to pronounce threaten (audio)
threatened; threatening ˈthret-niŋ How to pronounce threaten (audio)
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 How to pronounce threaten (audio)
ˈthre-tᵊn-ər
noun

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 Saturday: Wrap-Up: Importance of preparedness and action during threatening hazards. The Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2024 These days, some tech entrepreneurs argue that cash aid will be needed as gig work, automation and AI threaten jobs. Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 To manipulate the size of the court for the political expediency of any one side not only erodes the court’s independence but threatens the stability of and trust in our democracy. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Robberies, which are violent crimes in which force is threatened or used, at commercial businesses are much less common than shoplifting and commercial burglaries, the PPIC analysis found. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024 The victim called 911 after the shooting and was transported to the hospital to be treated for an injury not considered life threatening. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2024 The justices are expected to decide at least one case Monday, with signs strongly pointing to resolution of the case from Colorado that threatens to kick Trump off some state ballots because of his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020. Mark Sherman, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 Speech First provided no evidence that anyone had been disciplined or threatened with discipline by the bias team. Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 In Portland’s downtown, streets already barren as a result of the pandemic felt threatening, with people using drugs openly or acting out in crisis. Mike Baker, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'threaten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of threaten was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near threaten

Cite this Entry

“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threaten. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

threaten

verb
threat·​en ˈthret-ᵊn How to pronounce threaten (audio)
threatened; threatening ˈthret-niŋ How to pronounce threaten (audio)
-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 How to pronounce threaten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ-
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on threaten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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