threatened; threatening
ˈthret-niŋ 
ˈthre-tᵊn-iŋ
1
: to utter threats against
2
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
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
Over the past year, small-scale protests have occasionally taken place outside Villa Park and fans have threatened to hold walkouts during games.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
The family defended themselves against an angry mob of hundreds of people who surrounded the house, throwing rocks and threatening the family, Duggan said.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Meera also noted how the Trump Administration’s rhetoric toward the District’s homeless population ties into the law enforcement influx, as the Administration has threatened fines or jail time for homeless individuals who refuse shelter or treatment.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2025
The record-setting donation comes as the Trump administration has frozen or threatened to pull funding from prestigious universities around the U.S. over antisemitism allegations and opposition to the universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
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Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
The family defended themselves against an angry mob of hundreds of people who surrounded the house, throwing rocks and threatening the family, Duggan said.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Meera also noted how the Trump Administration’s rhetoric toward the District’s homeless population ties into the law enforcement influx, as the Administration has threatened fines or jail time for homeless individuals who refuse shelter or treatment.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2025
The record-setting donation comes as the Trump administration has frozen or threatened to pull funding from prestigious universities around the U.S. over antisemitism allegations and opposition to the universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threaten
Cite this Entry
“Threaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threaten. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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