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 of threat

Noun

• danger
• menace
• risk
• peril

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

Nations tend to use them to help detect threats early, track approaching aircraft, and use them to signal control, albeit limited, over a particular airspace. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Feb. 2026

But the threat of another slide and heavy snow forced crews to wait three days before returning to the area, a popular backcountry skiing destination about 30 miles west of Reno, Nevada. —Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 21 Feb. 2026

The Skyway Cruise Port would not only pose an obvious and significant environmental threat but would have far-reaching negative economic impacts. —Justin Tramble, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026

Over the past several years, Maryland’s legislature has taken important steps to confront the growing threat posed by PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, to public health and the environment. —Peter Blair, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2026

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