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

Other Caller alumni suggested to Semafor that the recent pivot could threaten what in the last decade has become an important talent pipeline and incubator for the right. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Sunday’s attacks cut electricity in two northern towns, shutting markets and bakeries and threatening hospitals, water supplies and winter crops as diesel shortages leave few alternatives. — Hamza Fahmy, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026

Another unprecedented heat wave threatens to pass 40°C by the end of our stay. — Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

The Supreme Court decision scaling back the VRA — and subsequent redistricting efforts in Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee — threatens to reduce Black representation in Congress. — Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for threaten

• 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