threaten

verb

threat·​en ˈthre-tᵊn 

threatened; threatening ˈthret-niŋ 

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 

ˈthre-tᵊn-ər

noun

Synonyms of threaten

• endanger
• menace

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

Alex Bonetig’s goal more than five minutes into extra time made the difference for Portland (4-1-5), which threatened repeatedly late to break a 1-1 stalemate that lasted nearly the entire second half. —Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026

Idaho lawmakers spent hours debating a surge in rodents menacing Boise-area gardens and kitchens and threatening agriculture and public health. —Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, 25 Apr. 2026

At the time, Polis acknowledged the need for tighter regulations but said he was influenced to reject the bill after Uber threatened to leave the state if the bill passed. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026

Investors bought tech stocks viewed as supporting the AI infrastructure buildout and dumping those seen as threatened by its adoption. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for threaten

• chloromycetin
• kinetin
• tibetan

Kids Definition

threaten

verb

threat·​en ˈthret-ᵊn 

threatened; threatening ˈthret-niŋ 

-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 

-ᵊn-iŋ-

adverb