threatened

1 of 2

adjective

threat·​ened ˈthre-tᵊnd 

: having an uncertain chance of continued survival

a threatened species

specifically : likely to become an endangered species

threatened

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of threaten

Examples of threatened in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

According to Bastille-Rousseau, the number of bobcats in Illinois started to decline in the 1970s and they were listed as a threatened population. — Elena Tittel, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

However, the work, done with Tanzanian government partners, helps track threatened species and monitor human activity that endangers the region’s wildlife, making the few cameras lost in the process all the more worth it. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026

One thorny issue has been how to deal with threatened wastewater infrastructure on San Francisco’s coast, along Ocean Beach. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

In 2016, about 6,000 union members were deemed too essential to public health and safety to participate in the threatened walkout, news organization KPBS reported at the time. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1960, in the meaning defined above