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
Relevance
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
Catsimatidis has threatened to close stores if Mamdani wins.
—
Diane Brady, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
He was also accused of twice threatening to kill her in writing.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
And with climate change, rising sea levels now threaten the structural integrity of the aging dome.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Forced to navigate this harrowing labyrinth of false saviors and predators, Ash’s struggle becomes not only about survival, but about reclaiming her voice and breaking free from cycles of harm that threaten to consume her completely.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Diane Brady, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
He was also accused of twice threatening to kill her in writing.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
And with climate change, rising sea levels now threaten the structural integrity of the aging dome.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Forced to navigate this harrowing labyrinth of false saviors and predators, Ash’s struggle becomes not only about survival, but about reclaiming her voice and breaking free from cycles of harm that threaten to consume her completely.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threaten
Verb
-
Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, has repeatedly defended the pain medicine, saying there is no scientific link to autism and warning that such suggestions could endanger maternal health.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Kelly Lewis, 52, is charged with felony child endangering after the child lost about 14% of his body weight.—
Cameron Knight,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In the follow-up, the sinister killer seeks vengeance on Finn from beyond the grave by menacing his younger sister, Gwen, who is played by Madeleine McGraw.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Pop-culture figures like Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolfman are so ubiquitous as to be both movie characters and parodies of themselves, and this DuckTales episode is good for any kids that like monsters but aren’t quite ready to be menaced by them yet.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threaten. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share